Press Release: European Commission report tracks progress in enforcing fundamental rights in the EU

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights has now been legally binding for over a year – primarily on the EU institutions (European Parliament, Council and the European Commission) when preparing new European laws, but also on national authorities if they are implementing EU law.

As part of its efforts to make fundamental rights a reality for citizens in the EU, the European Commission is reporting for the first time on how the Charter is being applied. The Annual Report on the application of the Charter shows that fundamental rights are relevant across a wide range of policies – from data protection to immigration and asylum – and that public interest in the Charter runs high. However, the report also highlights that the Charter is frequently misunderstood.

In 2010, the Commission received more than 4,000 letters from the general public regarding fundamental rights. Approximately three quarters of these concerned cases outside the remit of EU law. In addition, a recent survey by the European Ombudsman found that 72% of Europeans do not feel well informed about the Charter. Today's report is a first step in addressing these challenges, clarifying where the Charter applies and where it does not.

This will ease citizens' access to justice. The report should help citizens determine where they need to turn when they believe that their fundamental rights have been violated by an EU institution or a national authority. The Annual Report is therefore part of the Commission's strategy to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively implemented so that people can rely on them in practice.

• Primary Source

FRA: Speech, 31.3.11: Presentation of European Commission’s report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/attachments/FRA-speaking-points-ec-report3103.pdf

ESO: Background Information: Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/consolidated-versions-of-the-treaty-on-european-union-and-the-treaty-on-the-functioning-of-the-european-union-2/

European Commission: Memo/11/384: Annual report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights – frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/207&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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