The European Union (EU) currently has 27 members that have delegated some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level. With the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and the appointment of a new EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, the EU is becoming an increasingly important actor in the human rights landscape of Europe.
For general information see EUROPA - the EU website.
This Charter sets out the full range of civil, political, economic and social rights of European citizens and all persons resident in the EU. The rights are based on the fundamental rights and freedoms recognised by the European Convention on Human Rights, the constitutional traditions of the EU Member States, the Council of Europe's Social Charter, the Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of Workers and other international conventions to which the European Union or its Member States are parties. See the European Parliament website for more detail.
Also known as the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), this Agency is a body of the European Union (EU) based in Vienna. It provides the relevant institutions and authorities of the Community and its Member States with assistance and expertise relating to fundamental rights in order to support them when they take measures or formulate courses of action within their respective spheres of competence to fully respect fundamental rights. See the FRA website for more detail.
Viviane Reding , Vice-President of the European Commission, is the first EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Read more about her mandate on EUROPA.