Documents

Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights entail the right to freedom of expression, including the respect of freedom and pluralism of the media.

Article 49 TEU lays out the requirement for new members states: respect and promotion of EU values. Article 2 TEU/Article 19 TEU/Article 67 TFEU recognize that while states have different legal systems, they must respect common rule of law standards for assuring effective legal protection (effective remedy/fair trial). This right is entailed in Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Articles 6 and 13 of the European Convention on Human rights.

On March 30, 2007 the European Community signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which entered into force for the EU on January 22, 2011. UNCRPD recognises that disability is an evolving concept: “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

Article 67 TFUE entails that the Union shall endeavour to ensure a high level of security through measures to prevent and combat crime; Article 83 (1) TFUE lists corruption listed among the particularly serious crimes with a cross-border dimension for which minimum rules on the definition of criminal offences and sanctions may be established and Article 84 TFUE entails the possibility to establish measures to promote and support the action of member states in the field of crime prevention. Anti-corruption instruments at EU level include: the European Semester of economic governance; mainstream AC provisions in relevant legal initiatives; technical and financial support and participation in international fora active in the fight against corruption: GRECO, UNCAC, G20, OECD.

EU citizens' rights include: • Right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament • Right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament in another Member State • Right to vote and stand as a candidate in municipal elections in another Member State • Right to move and reside freely within the European Union • Right to consular protection

Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which entail the right to protection of personal data. Other than those provisions, the European framework for Data Protection also includes: • General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 • Law Enforcement Directive 2016/680 • Case law

The principle of non-discrimination is enshrined in Article 2 TEU, Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Copenhagen criteria for membership of the European Union. The main instrument for protection of minorities of the Council of Europe is the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), while there are other instruments intended to protect the principle of non-discrimination, such as: the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Social Charter and the Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.

Article 4 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and various procedural rights lay out detention standards in the EU. The United Nations have established the following instruments in this area: Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Optional Protocol and UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), while the Council of Europe also sets out detention standards in the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

EU Legislation on victims' rights includes: • Victims' Rights Directive 2012/29/EU - Ensures minimum rights for all victims, all crimes • Directive European Protection Order 2011/99/EU + Regulation 606/2013 - Two instruments providing for mutual recognition of protection orders • Compensation Directive 2004/80/EC – Entailing obligation to set up national compensation scheme for victims of violent intentional crime

Gender equality is deemed a fundamental EU value. It is regulated in Articles 2 and 3 TEU, Article 8 TFEU and Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.