Charter of Fundamental Rights: European Parliament increases pressure on IGC

12.00.00am GMT Thu 2nd Mar 2000

The European Parliament report by Andrew Duff (UK, ELDR) and Johannes Voggenhuber (Austria, Greens/EFA), on the Charter of Fundamental Rights was adopted on Tuesday by the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The Report makes three key proposals:

• The Charter must be integrated into the Treaty and be legally binding;

• The European Union should obtain legal personality and accede to the European Convention of Human Rights;

• The Charter must be justiciable in the European Court of Justice.

• The Report will inform the Parliament's decision on whether or nor to accept the Charter.

Andrew Duff said:

"I am gratified that 90% of what the rapporteurs wanted has found its way into the final Report. I am also encouraged by the strong cross-party support shown in Committee for the Report. The Report sets the framework for the work of the Convention. It is now necessary to sell the concept of the Charter within the Member States."