Human Rights in the European Union; Lack of a Comprehensive and Coherent Regime

پژوهش نامه ایرانی سیاست بین الملل

Article 2, Volume 2, Issue 3, February 2014, Pages 24-45   

Document Type: مقالات

DOI: 10.22067/jipr.v2i3.44266

Author

Seyed Mohammad Ali Taghavi^*

Abstract

The European Union in its policy declarations states that the respect for human rights is a requirement in its internal and external relations. For instance, accession of European countries to the Union, enjoying its services, and even signing an agreement with non-members is dependent on the observation of human rights. In this paper, the position of human rights in the European Union legal system is explored. The Human rights regime in the EU consists of four strands: EU Treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice, and the European Convention on Human Rights to which the Lisbon Treaty requires accession, but has not been finalised so far. Given the significance of the latter, it is necessary to expedite the accession of the EU to the Convention. Although, the Convention is referred to in the EU legal system and particularly in the European Court of Justice’ jurisprudence, the accession will institutionalise the status of the Convention in the legal system, and authorises an external entity to observe the respect for human rights in the EU functioning. Nevertheless, there seems to be a lacuna concerning human rights within EU institutions, as for instance, there is not sufficient regard for social and economic rights. Moreover, it is necessary for the above-mentioned strands to work together in a coherent and comprehensive regime.

Keywords

European union; Human rights; European convention on human rights; Charter of fundamental rights of the EU

References

Beddard, R. (1993). Human Rights and Europe. 3rd ed. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights. Essex: Longman.
Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of Justice of European
Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Brownlie, I. & Goodwin-Gill, G. S. (2010). Brownlie's Documents on
Human Rights, 6th ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Council of Europe website. Available at: http://hub.coe.int/web/coe-
portal/navigation/human-rights. (accessed on 2014, March 14).
Court of Justice of the European Union. Accessed at: http://europa.eu/about-
eu/institutions-bodies/court-justice/index_en.htm. (available on 2014, May 2).
Craig, P. & De Burca, G. (1999). The Evolution of EU Law, Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
De Witte, B. (1999). The Past and Future Role of the European Court of
Justice in the Protection of Human Rights. In Philip Alston (ed.). The EU and
Human Rights, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Editorial Comments (2001). The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights still
under discussion. Common Market Law Review. 38.
European Convention on Human Rights; Accession of the European Union.
Available at: http://hub.coe.int/what-we-do/human-rights/eu-accession-to-the-
convention. (accessed on 2014, February 28).
Janis, M., Kay, R., & Bradley A. (2000). European Human Rights Law: Text
and Materials (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kaczorowska, A. (2000). 150 Leading Cases: European Law. Old Bailey
Press.
Leach, P. (2001). Taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights.
London: Blackstone.
Lenaerts, K. & de Smijter, E. (2001). A ‘bill of Rights’ for the European
Union. Common Market Law Review. 38, 273-300.
Lenaerts, K. & Nuffel, P. (1999). Constitutional Law of the European Union.
London: Sweet and Maxwell.
Reding, V. (Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for
Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship) (2010). The EU's accession to the
European Convention on Human Rights: Towards a stronger and more coherent
protection of human rights in Europe. Available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-
2014/reding/pdf/speeches/speech_20100318_1_en.pdf. (accessed on 2014,
February 14).
Reform of European Court of Human Rights: Protocol No.14 enters into
force, 2010, Council of Europe Website. Available at: https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp? id=1628875&Site=CM. (accessed on 2014,
February 12).
Spielmann, D. (1999). Human Rights Case Law in the Strasbourg and
Luxembourg Courts: Conflicts, Inconsistencies, and Complementaries. In
Alston, P. (ed.). The EU and Human Rights, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
اﺳﻨﺎد ﺣﻘﻮﻗی
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers.
Equal Treatment Directive, Council Directive 76/207/EEC of 9 February
1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and
women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion,
and working conditions.
European Convention on Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms
European Social Charter.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
Opinion 2/94: Accession by the Community to the Convention for the
Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Available at:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:61994CV0002.
(accessed on 2014, May 3).
Treaty establishing the European Economic Community
Treaty on European Union
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
دﻋﺎوی
Commission v Germany. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and
Human Rights. Essex: Longman.
Criminal Proceedings v X. In: Spielmann, D. (1999). Human Rights Case
Law in the Strasbourg and Luxembourg Courts: Conflicts, Inconsistencies, and
Complementaries. In Alston, P. (ed.). The EU and Human Rights, Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
ERT. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights. Essex:
Longman.
Familiapress. In: Spielmann, D. (1999). Human Rights Case Law in the
Strasbourg and Luxembourg Courts: Conflicts, Inconsistencies, and
Complementaries. In Alston, P. (ed.). The EU and Human Rights, Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Geitling. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights.
Essex: Longman.

Grant. In: Spielmann, D. (1999). Human Rights Case Law in the Strasbourg
and Luxembourg Courts: Conflicts, Inconsistencies, and Complementaries. In
Alston, P. (ed.). The EU and Human Rights, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hauer. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of Justice of
European Communitie (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Internationale Handelsgesellschaft. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000).
The Court of Justice of European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet &
Maxwell.
Kirk. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights. Essex:
Longman.
Kremzow. In: Lenaerts, K. & de Smijter, E. (2001). A ‘bill of Rights’ for the
European Union. Common Market Law Review. 38, 273-300.
National Panasonic. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of
Justice of European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Nold. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of Justice of
European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
P v S and Cornwall County Council . In: Spielmann, D. (1999).
Human Rights Case Law in the Strasbourg and Luxembourg Courts: Conflicts,
Inconsistencies, and Complementaries. In Alston, P. (ed.). The EU and Human
Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
R v MAFF, ex parte First City Trading Ltd. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998).
EU Law and Human Rights. Essex: Longman.
R v Saunders. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights.
Essex: Longman.
Rutili. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of Justice of
European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Sabbatini v European Parliament. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000).
The Court of Justice of European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet &
Maxwell.
Sgarlata. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights.
Essex: Longman.
Stauder v City of Ulm. In: Brown, L. N. & Kennedy, T. (2000). The Court of
Justice of European Communities (5th ed.). London: Sweet & Maxwell.
Stork. In: Betten, L. & Grief, N. (1998). EU Law and Human Rights. Essex:
Longman.