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International Law: General Sources: European Union: Charter of Fundamental Rights

This guide lists essential sources for researching general aspects of international law. For specialized topics, such as human rights and international arbitration, see the guide International Law: Specialized Sources.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

2000 O.J. (C364), 18 Dec. 2000.  The text published at 2010 O.J. (C83) 389, 30 March 2010, repeats and adapts the original text and replaced it as of 1 Dec. 2009, the date of entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.


Article 1(8) of the Treaty of Lisbon, 2007 O.J. (C306) 1, at 13, 17 Dec. 2007, states:

"Article 6 [of the Treaty on European Union] shall be replaced by the following:

    

‘Article 6

1.   The Union recognises the rights, freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union of 7 December 2000, as adapted at Strasbourg, on 12 December 2007, which shall have the same legal value as the Treaties.

The provisions of the Charter shall not extend in any way the competences of the Union as defined in the Treaties.

The rights, freedoms and principles in the Charter shall be interpreted in accordance with the general provisions in Title VII of the Charter governing its interpretation and application and with due regard to the explanations referred to in the Charter, that set out the sources of those provisions.

2.   The Union shall accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Such accession shall not affect the Union's competences as defined in the Treaties.

3.   Fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, shall constitute general principles of the Union's law.’"

Consolidated Versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; Charter on Fundamental Rights of the European Union (for information only/not an official text)

Websites, etc.