The charter of fundamental rights was officially proclaimed and signed in Strasbourg (12 December). For the first time in the EU's history, all the fundamental political, economic and social rights of its residents are now gathered in a single, legally-binding document."The democratic nature of our European project is reinforced by this charter of fundamental rights" said president Barroso.
The charter is divided into six chapters: dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizens’ rights and justice. It has been amended several times since 2000, when it was a political declaration only. It will now be enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty and will protect a wide range of rights, from the prohibition of reproductive cloning to the right to go on strike.
The charter complements other international instruments such as the European convention of human rights.
The charter was signed by Commission president José Manuel Barroso, with president of the European parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering and president in office of the European Council José Sócrates. Mr Barroso stressed that by signing and proclaiming the charter, the presidents of the EU's decision-making institutions were publicly signalling their wish to make it legally binding on the Union's institutions. By inserting a reference to the charter into the treaty to be signed tomorrow in Lisbon, the EU is taking another significant step towards European integration, he said.
Author: European Commission
