Fundamental Rights
Fundamental Rights : European Treaties and case-law provide for fundamental human rights as well as rights connected with European Union (EU) citizenship, such as freedom of movement throughout the EU. These rights are summed up in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, proclaimed in December 2000. The EU has always affirmed its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and has explicitly confirmed the Union's attachment to fundamental social rights. The Amsterdam Treaty, which came into force in 1993, has established procedures intended to secure their protection. The Treaty stresses the respect of the fundamental rights, especially those guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), adopted in Rome in 1950 by the members of the Council of Europe. The Preamble of the European Community Treaty (Treaty of Rome, 1957) refers to the fundamental social rights by pointing to the 1961 European Social Charter (Council of Europe), amended in 1996, and the 1989 Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers. According to the Treaty, the EU has the power to take appropriate action to combat discrimination. The possible grounds of intervention are discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. In this regard, the EU has implemented policies to achieve equal opportunities for women and men. The Amsterdam Treaty has formally empowered the European Court of Justice to ensure the respect of fundamental rights and freedoms by the European institutions. The Nice European Council ( December 2000) welcomed the joint proclamation, by the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission, of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, combining in a single text the civil, political, economic, social and societal rights hitherto laid down in a variety of international, European or national sources. The European Council would like to See: The Charter disseminated as widely as possible amongst the EU citizens. The question of the Charter's force will be considered later. See: Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; Community Charter of the Fundamental Rights of Workers (Social Charter); Discrimination; European Convention on Human Rights
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