EU guarantees fundamental rights for all

10.36.39pm GMT Wed 12th Dec 2007

The Charter of Fundamental Rights, a single document containing legally enforceable human rights provisions for citizens in the EU, was signed in Strasbourg on Wednesday 12th December 2007.

The signature of the Charter is a historic event. It is the first time ever in the EU's history that a single text comprises civil, political, economic and social rights for all citizens in the EU. The rights are based on several international conventions on human rights guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms, namely the European Convention on Human Rights, the constitutional tradition of the EU Member States and the Council of Europe's Social Charter.

The Charter gains a legally binding force in the EU Reform Treaty, which is to be signed on Thursday 13th December 2007 in Lisbon. The EU Reform Treaty, which is a follow-up of the failed European constitution, amends existing EU treaties instead of the initial attempt to replace all earlier EU treaties. It is due to come into force on 1st January 2009.

European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering, Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates representing the current EU Council Presidency and Commission President José Manuel Barroso signed the Charter during a formal ceremony which took place on Wednesday morning at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Bill Newton Dunn, MEP for the East Midlands, welcomes the Charter of Fundamental Rights: "The Charter of Fundamental Rights stands for European common values and guarantees fundamental rights, freedoms, equality, solidarity and justice for all of us in Europe. The EU should lead the way on human rights; hence it is fundamental to have a single document outlining fundamental rights and freedoms for all of us living in Europe. It is very regrettable indeed that the British government has opted out of the Charter, thus denying UK citizens a legal bulwark against arbitrary abuse by the government"