10 years have passaed from the historical signing in Nice ...

December 7th 2010 is the tenth anniversary of the signing, in Nice (France), of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, signed and proclaimed by the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission at the Council of Europe

This Charter, that was born from the resolve of "the peoples of Europe in creating an ever closer union among them" and of sharing "a peaceful future based on common values" is divided in chapters, each titles to the rights considered fundamental in every  rule of law: Dignity, Freedom, Equality, Solidarity, Citizenship, Justice. It represented an important novelty in the legislation of the European Union.

In it are set out in a single text, for the first time in the European Union's history, the whole range of civil, political, economic and social rights of European citizens and all persons resident in the EU.

This is the first time that all rights are united in one document, whilst beforehand they were  scattered in various legislative tools, such as national laws, international conventions of the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the International Labour Organization.

Thanks to the visibility and clarity that the Charter confers to the fundamental rights, it contibutes to develop the concept of citizenship of the Union and to create a shared place for freedom, security and justice.

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on December 1 2009, introduces the Charter as a primary law for all European citizens, preserves existing rights while introducing new ones. In particular, it guarantees the freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and gives its provisions a binding legal force. It concerns civil, political, economic and social rights.

For further information on the Charter from the European Parliament's website, please click here.