EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Citation

European Union, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000/C 364/01) (Dec. 18, 2000) (full-text).

Overview

The Charter (CFR) enshrines certain political, social, and economic rights for European Union (EU) citizens and residents, into EU law. It was drafted by the European Convention and solemnly proclaimed on December 7, 2000, by the European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the European Commission. However its then legal status was uncertain and it did not have full legal effect until the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on December 1, 2009.

Under the Charter, the European Union (EU) must act and legislate consistently with the Charter and the EU's courts will strike down EU legislation that contravenes it. The Charter only applies to EU member states when they are implementing EU law and does not extend the competences of the EU beyond the competences given to it in the treaties.