A New Era for Human Rights in the European Union?

Summary:

This article argues that the changes made by the Treaty of Lisbon for the protection of human rights mean that the Union is moving inexorably to a general human rights competence.

That competence, however, will, of necessity, be shared with the Member States and worries about the Union over-reaching itself in this field are misplaced given the increased respect for the principle of subsidiarity in the Treaty of Lisbon. It is argued that it is illogical for the Union to have only limited competence in the field of human rights. If such rights are fundamental, it is inappropriate to regard them as only having limited application.

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