Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

PURPOSE: to present the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

CONTENT: the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission proclaim this text as the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which is divided into six specific sections and a preamble.

Preamble: the Charter notes that the peoples of Europe, in creating an ever closer union among them, are resolved to share a peaceful future based on common values. Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice. This Charter reaffirms, with due regard for the powers and tasks of the Union and for the principle of subsidiarity, the rights as they result, in particular, from the constitutional traditions and international obligations common to the Member States.

1. Dignity, which is comprised of the following: the right to life; the right to integrity of the person; prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; prohibition of slavery and forced labour;
2. Freedoms, which is comprised of the following: right to liberty and security; respect for private and family life; protection of personal data; right to marry and right to found a family; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom of expression and information; freedom of assembly and of association; freedom of the arts and sciences; right to education; freedom to choose an occupation and right to engage in work; freedom to conduct a business; right to property; right to asylum; protection in the event of removal, expulsion or extradition;
3. Equality, which is comprised of the following: right to equality before the law; non-discrimination; cultural, religious and linguistic diversity; equality between women and men; rights of the child; the rights of the elderly; the integration of persons with disabilities;
4. Solidarity, which is comprised of the following articles: workers' right to information and consultation within the undertaking; right of collective bargaining and action; right of access to placement services; protection in the event of unjustified dismissal; fair and just working conditions; prohibition of child labour and protection of young people at work; family and professional life; social security and assistance; health care; access to services of general economic interest; environmental protection and consumer protection;
5. Citizens’ rights, which is comprised of the following articles: right to vote and to stand as a candidate at elections to the European Parliament; right to vote and to stand as a candidate at municipal elections; right to good administration; right of access to documents; European Ombudsman; right to petition; freedom of movement and of residence; diplomatic and consular protection;
6. Justice, which is comprised of the following articles: right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial; presumption of innocence and right of defence; principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties; right not to be tried or punished twice in criminal proceedings for the same criminal offence.

The final section concerns general provisions governing the interpretation and application of the Charter.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union was proclaimed at Strasbourg on 12 December 2007 by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission (OJ C 303, 14.12.2007, p. 1). This text repeats and adapts the Charter proclaimed on 7 December 2000, and replaces it with effect from 1 December 2009, the date of entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon. By virtue of the first subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the Charter proclaimed in 2007 has the same legal value as the Treaties.