This lecture organised by the Univeristy of Amsterdam takes its cue from a double anniversary: 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights and 25 years of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. While Europe’s highest courts are sometimes portrayed as rivals, they are above all allies in the adjudication of fundamental rights. Examples from climate, migration, and foreign affairs illustrate that the deepest tensions lie not between courts, but between courts and politics, especially in an age of polarisation. In that very context, Europe’s courts can draw strength from the ECHR, the Charter – and from each other. Felix Ronkes Agerbeek, Member of the Legal Service at the European Commission, will speak about the importance of these courts, especially in an age of polarisation.