Human Rights in the EU, Response of the Committee

Parliamentary Questions

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1855/03

Submission: Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

E-1855/03EL
Answer of Mr. Vitorino
on behalf of the Commission
(7.7.2003)

The respect for fundamental rights at the Union level is ensured by the mechanisms described below.

Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union provides for mechanisms aimed at ensuring compliance with the principles set out in Article 6(1) of the same Treaty. The activation of the mechanisms provided for in Article 7 is the responsibility of the Commission, in cooperation with the Parliament and the member states. The mechanisms that the Commission may initiate are either preventive in nature or aim to impose sanctions, as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the aforementioned article. The Commission is already preparing a communication to the Parliament and the Council regarding the implementation of Article 7.

In 2002, the Commission, at the request of the Parliament, established the “Independent Network of Experts on Fundamental Rights.” The first annual report of the experts, which was already transmitted to the Parliament on May 2, 2003, provides a comprehensive overview of the current situation of fundamental rights in each member state. The same report also analyzes the state of fundamental rights in relation to the various articles of the Charter and attempts to examine the legislation, case law, and practices of national authorities at three levels: national, Community, and international.

Although the report does not represent the official position of the Commission, it is a fact that it provides the Commission with the opportunity for a quick review of the situation regarding the protection of fundamental rights in the Union.