Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has cautioned Britain against seeking tougher migration measures that could "destroy" or "undermine" Europe's human rights system.
He issued the warning as the UK seeks greater authority to deport foreign criminals and rejected asylum seekers.
Mr Berset argued that criticism of the Strasbourg court, which is run by the Council of Europe, had become excessively "brutal" and noted that any amendments to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would necessitate unanimous approval from all 46 member nations.
Defending the court's record, he dismissed concerns about blocked deportations.
Mr Berset argued that criticism of the Strasbourg court had become excessively 'brutal'
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He told Times Radio that the European judges had overruled British courts on just a single occasion over the past 10 years.
Britain has aligned itself with a coalition of 27 countries seeking to strengthen Articles 3 and 8, provisions frequently invoked to halt removals based on "inhumane treatment" or "family life" arguments.
The bloc issued a statement demanding that European judges be prohibited from blocking deportation arrangements with safe third countries, similar to the Rwanda scheme.
However, a meeting of all 46 ECHR member states this week produced only modest results.
The bloc issued a statement demanding that European judges be prohibited from blocking deportation arrangements
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The talks concluded with an agreement to draft a political declaration and schedule further discussions for next year, falling short of concrete reform measures.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick responded by demanding Britain's immediate departure from the ECHR.
He said: "Reform of the ECHR is as doomed as reform of the EU.
"We don't have the time to wait for Europe to get its act together. We need to leave the ECHR immediately."
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Robert Jenrick described the ECHR as 'doomed'
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The Prime Minister's official spokesman acknowledged limited progress had been achieved during the week's discussions, pointing to a growing European consensus on the necessity for change.
However, the spokesman maintained the Government's position that the human rights framework must evolve, saying: "As the PM has said, the ECHR needs to adapt."
On Wednesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage blasted Europe over its "total panic" in the face of "lunatic immigration policies" across the continent.
Speaking on his show, the GB News presenter said states across the continent were "terrified" of centre-right political parties who were driving the momentum to reform the ECHR.
He told the People's Channel: "Not just in Britain, but across the rest of Europe, Governments are in total panic.
"They have pursued open door immigration policies, some of them, like Sweden, to an absolutely lunatic degree."
The Reform UK leader added: "And of course, much of was this encouraged, if you remember, by the German Chancellor of the time, Angela Merkel.
"What the European leaders are now saying is, Sorry for wrecking your cities and ruining your lives."
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