In a press release published on 9 April 2020, in the context of the global health crisis, the ECtHR extended the exceptional measures at the Court that had been applied since 16 March 2020 (see eucrim 1/2020, p. 30). The measures take into account the difficulties the parties face during the COVID-19 crisis and provide the following in relation to procedural time limits:

• The six-month time limit for the lodging of an application under Art. 35 of the ECHR was extended for a further two-month period to 15 June 2020 inclusive.
• The time limits that had been allotted in pending proceedings were extended for a further two-month period from 16 April 2020. This extension, however, did not apply to the three-month period under Art. 43 ECHR for requesting the referral of cases to the Grand Chamber.

The main activities of the Court continued in accordance with the confinement measures adopted by the host State, France, and by facilitating telework and electronic communication, including registering incoming applications and their allocation to the relevant judicial formations. The procedures introduced to enable the ongoing examination of requests for interim measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court were also maintained.