DRAFT CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Transcription

1 DRAFT CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Brussels, 5 June 2000 CHARTE 4324/00 CONTRIB 190 COVER NOTE Subject : Draft Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union Please find hereafter a common submission by several NGO's (list: see page 2). 1 1 This text has been submitted in English and French languages. CHARTE 4324/00 cb 1

2 Association des Femmes de l'europe Méridionale (AFEM) Association Internationale des Anciens des Communautés Européennes (AIACE) ATD Quart Monde Carrefour pour une Europe civique et sociale (CAFECS) Centro Italiano di Formazione Europea Cercle Populaire Européen Collectif de Pratiques et de Réflexions Féministes "Ruptures" Collectif sur la Charte des droits fondamentaux Comité Européen de Liaison sur les Services d'intérêt Général (CELSIG) Commission Justice et Paix Eurolink Age European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) European Movement European Union Migrant's Forum Fédération européenne du Personnel des Services Publics (EUROFEDOP) FONDA pour la vie associative Forum Européen des Orthodoxes Franciscans (Commission for Justice, Peace and Integration of Creation) Gauche Européenne (section belge) Initiative "Netzwerk Dreigliederung" Institut Robert Schuman pour l'europe International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims MAPP Office catholique d'information et d'initiative pour l'europe (OCIPE) Permanent Forum of Civil Society Points Cardinaux Society for Threatened Peoples International Terre des Hommes France The European Region of the International Lesbian and Gay Organisation (ILGA) Union des Fédéralistes Européens (UEF)* Union des Fédéralistes Européens-Belgique VIDES Young European Federalists (JEF)* * avec le commentaire suivant : "L'élaboration de la Charte des droits fondamentaux doit s'inscrire dans le cadre d'un processus d'élaboration d'une Constitution européenne". CHARTE 4324/00 cb 2

3 "THE QUALITY TEST Common Statement of NGOs participating in the Hearing on the Charter of Fundamental Rights Brussels, 27 April What the Charter needs to be What that requires 1. An EU Charter, shining beacon across Europe on common values and objectives of peoples sharing the same aspiration to peace, development and freedom, belonging to various faiths, beliefs and civilisations and part of the first planetary generation. To address the universal character of Fundamental Rights. 2. A Charter for Women and Men To recognise equality between women and men as a founding principle of the Union To use inclusive language. 3. A Charter for all: Citizens, Residents, Migrants, Refugees, Undocumented persons 4. A Charter on essential rights from the Council of Europe, the U.N. and I.L.O agreements 5. A Charter on Individual and Collective Rights, To recognise the principle of non discrimination To protect the rights of minorities, to use their languages and to transmit their cultures and values in accordance with the Charter Never to fall short of agreements even if signed only by some of the EU Member States To supplement, strengthen, build on existing rights To protect collective rights such as cultural and linguistic rights, the rights of trade unions and associations To guarantee a right of consultation for NGOs at the European level To recognise access to justice at EU level for NGOs defending the common good and the rights of future generations 6. A Charter on the Common Good To secure recognition of the common good which is the foundation of a community of persons living together in solidarity and respect To give everyone access to the common goods and Public Services, secure transparency in management and participation in the assessment of the management CHARTE 4324/00 cb 3

4 7. A Charter on civil and political, social, cultural and ecological rights 8. A Charter on Participatory Democracy at European level 9. A Charter which inspires the Union in all its external actions. To declare that the Charter secures indivisible rights To recognise and guarantee the right to local self-government To guarantee the key programmatic social, environmental, cultural and education rights for all, for the implementation of which (i) indicators and convergence mechanisms need to be designed (ii) a multiannual implementation programme needs to be developed (iii) a system of monitoring, benchmarking and assessment needs to be in place To secure transparency and access to information To define participatory democracy rights at EU as well as at local level To recognise the right to a democracy based on equality and parity A Charter which defines the criteria for strategic impact assessments of EU policies on all those who find themselves affected by EU actions abroad 10. A legally binding Charter The Charter should be legally binding for all the EU Institutions and the Member States. Infringement should be examined by the EU Court of Justice and Member State status should be suspended for any State found to be in serious infringement 11. A Charter adopted by a participatory procedure 12. A Charter to be integrated in the Treaty To be submitted to an indicative vote by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, involving MPs of all EU Applicant Countries To ask for an indicative vote of NGOs on the draft Charter To pass the above quality test successfully. CHARTE 4324/00 cb 4

5 The Signatories request the opportunity to have a real debate with the Members of the Convention on 6 June 2000, at the occasion of the open doors day organised by the Convention in the EP. CHARTE 4324/00 cb 5