Includes bibliographical references and index.

Belgium : a reference instrument, but without the binding force -- France : the origins, with the prospect of increasing effect -- The United Kingdom : developing a human rights culture -- Denmark : a document of ideological importance -- Greece : more verbalism, less effectiveness? -- Luxembourg : content without reference? -- The Netherlands : religious inspiration, but little domestic impact -- Poland : from oblivion to legal use -- Sweden : underestimation of rights -- Austria : keeping a low profile -- Bulgaria : evolving into democracy under the UDHR template -- Finland : political, not legal -- Hungary : the impact on the freedom of expression -- Ireland : from domestic pre-occupations to wider reception -- Italy : a legal puzzle, but the civil society has taken the ball and runs with it -- Portugal : human rights guidelines from the Constitution to sugar bags -- Romania : sidelined to the margins of legal pluralism -- Spain : from totalitarianism to fulfilment -- Cyprus : from an interesting colonial legacy to post-conflict contextualisation -- Germany : from imposition to adherence -- Malta : a tenuous link in human rights practice and procedure -- The Czech Republic : from lip service to concrete application -- Estonia : transition through human rights -- Latvia : binding force through court practice -- Lithuania : subtle material impact -- The Slovak Republic : political significance, not legal -- Slovenia : indirect but increasing impact.

The council of Europe : first steps and then some : collective enforcement of the universal declaration -- The European Union : in search of legitimacy -- The OSCE : a commitment to human rights -- A view from the outside -- Concluding remarks on Europe : diversity within the unity