Myths about the European Constitution - FCO Fact Sheet #4

FCO Fact Sheet #4
deals with Myth No. 4:

Myth #4: The Charter of Fundamental Rights will be used to change Britain's labour laws


This is a strange "myth". Is it really a significant problem? Or are people looking for issues where there are none? Will it change Britain's labour laws? Hopefully, if those laws are unjust.

The real question here is: how many people in Europe have even heard of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, much less know what it contains. The RIGHTS which it grants to citizens are far-reaching and progressive, and worthy of the high level of human civilization represented by the peoples and countries of the European Union.

Generally, as far as the legal status of the Charter is concerned, it is a part of the EU Constitution:

"The European Constitution replaces most existing treaties and consists of four parts. The first part defines the European Union and its values, objectives, responsibilities, decision-making procedures and institutions. The second part incorporates the Charter on fundamental rights. The third part describes the policy and actions of the European Union. The fourth and last part contains the final clauses, including the procedures for approval and a possible revision of the Constitution."

A detailed presentation of the Charter is found at the EU Justice & Home Affairs website.

Even though the Charter is not yet legally "binding" on EU Member States, it is already having an impact:

"Since December 2000 and awaiting the ratification of the Constitution by 1st November 2006 (Article IV-447), the Charter has increasingly made its existence felt. More and more EU citizens are referring to its provisions in the letters, petitions and complaints they send to the European Parliament and Commission. EU lawyers, and specifically the Advocates General at the European Court of Justice, now regularly cite it in decisions – although they emphasise that it is not mandatory. In this way, the Charter is already achieving its first objective of making fundamental rights visible."

Official EU information and the text of the Charter can be accessed at the EU website pages on the Charter, which summarize the Charter as follows:

"The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights sets out in a single text, for the first time in the European Union's history, the whole range of civil, political, economic and social rights of European citizens and all persons resident in the EU.

These rights are divided into six sections:

Dignity
Freedoms
Equality
Solidarity
Citizens' rights
Justice"

Our next posting contains the full text of the Charter.