This short introductory chapter to Part I analyses the new approaches to European consensus offered in the chapters of this Part of the book. It tries to systematise the key questions raised in the chapters and it critically considers the foundations of these approaches. In this summary, how the authors of the chapters define consensus is examined, what value they see in this method of interpretation, how it interferes with other tools of interpretation of the Convention and ultimately how consensus impacts the legitimacy of the European Court of Human Rights.