Introduction of different monitoring mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels can be mutually supportive, substantively cross-fertilising and strategically consistent. In addition, EU institutions can potentially play an important role in following-up and integrating these recommendations into EU level policies and decision-making to promote effective implementation of standards to prevent torture and other ill-treatment across the EU. The Project ‘Strengthening the effective implementation and follow-up of torture monitoring bodies in the European Union’ Against this background, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights in Vienna (BIM) and the Human Rights Implementation Centre of the University of Bristol (HRIC) were awarded funding by the DG Justice of the European Commission and co-funding by the CoE and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway – to address the following questions: • Which methods, procedures or institutional frameworks for follow-up on the recommendations of NPMs exist in EU member states, as well as in the practice of the CPT and the SPT? • Which lessons can be drawn from these examples and how can they be translated into good practice models? • What are the needs of NPMs in order to effectively follow-up their recommendations and systematically integrate recommendations originating from the regional and international levels into their regular work? • What lessons can the regional and international monitoring bodies learn from the national practices? • How can EU institutions be more effectively included in follow-up processes and what should be the role of the EU in the harmonisation and policy implementation of recommendations in the field of torture prevention? By bringing together different actors in the field of torture prevention in two workshops and a conference, the Project aimed to contribute to the overall objective of fostering communication and coordination between EU NPMs, CPT, SPT, states, relevant civil society experts and EU institutions. This was done with a view to developing and strengthening structured and systematic follow-up of recommendations of preventive monitoring bodies and thereby promoting more systematic implementation at the national level. The final output of the Project was to elaborate the present Study collecting and analysing good practices of follow-up and supporting NPMs in the development of their follow-up procedures and strategies. Methodology The Project chose a multi-level approach, including the three levels of preventive monitoring mechanisms (international, regional, and national) in all participatory activities. This approach facilitated mutual, meaningful interaction and exchange of practices and lessons learned on effective follow-up methodologies and procedures between EU NPMs, CPT and SPT, while at the same time providing opportunities for strategic cooperation and cross-fertilisation between the different bodies. The research approach was practice-oriented and aimed at producing outputs that were directly relevant to the target group. We combined desk-based research and analysis with participatory activities, consulting the target groups in writing, over the phone and in joint activities to ensure that the research outputs are of practical relevance. Firstly, comprehensive desk research was carried out on the standards, principles, procedures and mechanisms concerning follow-up to the recommendations of the NPMs and various torture monitoring bodies in the EU. From this initial research a common survey questionnaire was developed and completed in consultation with NPMs to gather fundamental data on the legal framework and practices of all functional NPMs in the EU. On the basis of the desk research, questionnaires and interviews, country chapters on all consulted NPMs were produced in a baseline study and shared with the NPMs, providing background information on the set-up as well as existing follow-up practices for the subsequent - 17 -