Policies

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Fundamental Rights

The EPP Group has been the driving force behind the EU since its inception. Our values are the fundamental values which form the bedrock of the EU, above all the promotion of freedom and democracy.

We will continue the campaign tirelessly for the protection within the territory of the Union of citizens' rights, human rights and fundamental rights, including the protection of minorities, as laid down in the Treaties and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, has made the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union binding. The provisions of the Charter will not add any new obligations on Member States, but this recognition will surely strengthen the respect for fundamental rights and liberties in the European Union. Also, as established in the Lisbon Treaty, the Union shall accede to the European Convention for the Protection of Human rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Council of Europe. Although this accession will not affect the Union's competences, it will surely create a better framework for protecting fundamental rights in the EU.

While we shall seek to promote our values globally, we acknowledge a special responsibility to defend them within the EU and in our neighbourhood. We will continue to campaign for:

• Equal respect for all under the law.


• The protection of the individual should be a primary consideration, but it must be acknowledged that striking the right balance between individual freedoms and the safety of society at large is not always entirely straightforward.

Special importance is attached by our Group to the protection of children. Children are the citizens of Europe today and tomorrow, so we welcome initiatives to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the European Union contributes to promoting and safeguarding children's rights in all its internal and external actions and supports the efforts of the Member States in this field. The EPP Group strongly believes in the need to update existing European instruments to respond to new technological developments, particularly the risks posed by those who make contact with children through the internet in order to abuse them (grooming).

We are also keen to explore ways in which the concept of European citizenship can be made increasingly meaningful and relevant to everyone in the EU.