Duties to cooperate and their limits under the case law of the ECtHR and the ECJ
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46941/2023.e2.3Keywords:
duty to cooperate, nemo tenetur, right to remain silent, privilege against self-incrimination, attorney-client-privilege, confidentiality, business secrets, privacy, legal persons, ECJ, ECtHRAbstract
Economic regulation and supervision mechanisms habitually include duties to cooperate which require individuals and legal persons to document their activities and disclose information about their actions if they come under investigation. These duties are often backed up by sanctions, forcing the addressee to decide whether to hand over information or face adverse consequences. Such pressure could violate the privilege against self-incrimination and other fundamental rights guarantees. The article reviews the case law of the ECtHR and the ECJ and summarizes the present state of European human rights law. It will show that the current situation is unsatisfying as it leaves crucial questions unanswered. Most importantly, the article will shine a light on the lack of reliable precedent regarding the right to remain silent of legal persons.
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