欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

1thegeneralintroductionofthedraftconstitutioninaspectofthehumanrights
2shortreviewofthehumanrightsprotectioninEuropeanUnion
3thenewpointsinaspectofhumanrightsinthedraftconstitution
3.1commonvalues
3.2incorporationoftheCharteroffundamentalrights
3.3otherchangescouldaffectthehumanrights
4arisenquestions
4.1theprotectiondifferentfromundertheConvention
4.2thetwocourtssystemanditsapplication
5conclusionsinahistoricalview
1generalintroductionofthedraftconstitutioninaspectofthehumanrights
“ConsciousthatEuropeisacontinentthathasbroughtforthcivilization;Thatitsinhabitants,arrivinginsuccessivewavesfromearliesttimes,havegraduallydevelopedthevaluesunderlyinghumanism:equalityofpersons,freedom,respectforreason”ExtractfromthepreambletothedraftConstitution
Inpast16years,theEuropeanUnion(EUhereafter)hasmarkeditselfthroughaseriesofchanges.FromTheSingleEuropeanAct,inwhichtheUnioncommitteditselftocreateasinglemarketandatthesametimeestablishonitsterritorythefreedomofmovementofpeople,goods,servicesaswellascapital,toMaastrichtTreaty,whichbroughttheUnionintorealityandledtocommonforeignpolicyandcooperationintheareaofjusticeandinternalaffairsasahigherlevelcooperationamongMemberStates.ThenthefollowingAmsterdam(1997)andNice(xxxx)Treaties,strengthenedcooperationinforeignandsecuritypolicyandplacedJusticeandHomeAffairsmattersandestablishedtheframefortheUnionasalegitimateinstitution,inwhichpeoplefromdifferentnationsintegratedinalargeregionwouldhavecommonhistoricaldirectionandsplendidfuturebeforethem.JustbeforethedoorofenlargementoftheUnion,itwasarguedthattheUnionhastoimprovedemocracyandtransparencyaswellasefficiency,inordertooutlinestheEU’spurposeandcompetenceclearlyandstreamlinestructuressoastopreventparalysis,thereforeanewconstitutionfortheUnionisdeterminedtoreplacetheEU'sseriesofkeytreatiesinpassedoverthelast50yearsasasingledocument.
UnderleadingofformerFrenchPresidentandmasterdraftsmanValéryGiscardd'Estaing,theEuropeanConventionsetaboutitsworkofdraftingtheEuropeanUnion'sfirsteverfull-fledgedconstitution.Withtheconvention'sworkcompleted,thedraftmustnowbefinalizedbyanIntergovernmentalConferenceofEuropeanleadersthatisexpectedtocompletedeliberationsbytheendofthexxxx.Asfarasourtopicisconcerned,noticeablymodificationscomeoutintheconstitutioncontract,firstofall,theincorporationoftheCharterofFundamentalRights,whichwewilldiscusslater.InthebeginningitismeaningfultoconsiderthestatuesofthedraftconstitutionintheprogresscourseoftheUnion.TheUniondesirestobringpeaceandprosperity,topromoteeconomicandsocialprogressthroughcontinuouslyintegratingmarketandexpandingfreedomunderlightofunitedinstitutionandsocialsystems.Thesegoals,however,arethefoundationofdevelopmentandprotectionofhumanrights.Thatmeans,ifweregardhumanrightsasaseriesrightwhichrealizedatfirstinpeacefulandlaw-rulingsociety,thentheUnionhasalreadykeptonentrenchingtoappreciatethesegoalfrombeginningon,andnowbymeansofperusingsuchgoalinalargerregionthroughenlargement,theEU’sinfluenceextenttobroaderareaandmorepeople.
Thedraftconstitutiontheninsuchcontextshouldbeviewedasanotherhistoricalphaseintheprocess.Becausethepromotingofwell-beingandfortuneofpeopledependnotonlyonthedevelopmentofeconomicsituationandaddingsomesinglefreedomclausesintothegovernmentaldocuments,butalsoupontheentirepoliticsystemandbackgroundinwhichwelive.Withoutgoverningbasedondemocraticandeffectiveinstitutionalstructure,andespeciallyaripelegislationandjudiciarymechanism,therealizationandprotectionofhumanrightscouldonlybeonthepaper.ThisisalsooneofthemotivecausedtheDeclarationonthefutureoftheEuropeanUnionwhichcommittedtheUniontobecomingmoredemocratic,moretransparentandeffective,inordertopavethewayfor

aConstitutioninresponsetotheexpectationsofthepeopleofEurope.Inthisperspective,oneshallrecognizetheConstitutionasamovingforwardstepofthewholeEUinstitutionalizationtargetingitsgoal,sothattodiscusstheConstitutioninconnectionwiththehumanrightprotection,itishelpfultoreviewthehumanrightsprotectioninEuropeand,especiallyinEU.
2shortreviewofthehumanrightsprotectioninEuropeanUnion
Theprotectionofhumanrightshasbeeninternationallyco

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

metolifeintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsin1948(UDHR)withreorganizationofdisregardandcontemptforhumanrightshaveresultedinbarbarousactswhichhaveoutragedtheconscienceofmankindandrespectforinherentdignityaswellastheequalrightsofallmembersofthehuman.Thisdeclarationstatesexplicitlythattherightsandfreedomsofhumanshavetobeguaranteedwithoutdistinctionanddestructionbyanygroup,stateorperson.TheseprincipleswerebroadlyacceptedbyEuropeancountries,consideringtheoriginoftheEU(EC)andthehistoricalseparationinEuropeafterWWII,wedenoteonlythecontractingcountriesofEuropeanCommunity.
FortheMemberStatesofEC,theCouncilofEuropehasbeenuptonowthemostimportantinstrument,whichestablishedin1949asaresultoftheCongressofEuropeinTheHague,andtookforthebasicofthehumanrightsprotection.TheCouncilacceptedtheprinciplesofUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsandintegrateditintoTheEuropeanConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRights(theConventionhereafter),whichandits12ProtocolsturnedouttobethesignificantresourceforHumanRightsprotectioninEurope.BecauseoftheexistenceoftheConvention,theothertwoorganizationsestablishedinthesameageaftermathoftheSecondWorldWar,i.e.OEECandtheEuropeanCommunitiesdidn’tincluderelevantclausesforHumanRightsprotectionintotheirfoundingtreaties.Sinceitwasagreedatthattime,theCouncilofEuropewouldfocusontheprotectionofhumanrights,fundamentalfreedomsanddemocraticvalues,whereastheOECDandtheEuropeanCommunitiesweretobeconcernedwiththeeconomicrestorationofEurope.Thereasonofseparateorganizationswasbasedonaviewtoavoidingeconomicexcusesforfutureinhumanity.Anotherreasoncamefromthethought,whichbelievedthattheprocessofeconomicintegrationsetforthintheCommunityTreatiescouldnotleadtoaviolationofhumanrights.Furthermore,theoriginalMemberStatesintheTreatyofRomefeared,thattheinclusionofa"billofrights"intheTreatymighthavebroughtaboutanundesirableexpansionofCommunitypowers,sinceitcouldleadCommunityinstitutionstointerprettheirpowersasextendingtoanythingnotexplicitlyprohibitedbytheenumeratedguarantees.
UndertheregimeofCouncilofEurope,alotsofachievementofhumanrightsimprovementhasbeenreached,yetalongwiththedevelopmentandexpansionofEU,anothermechanismonprotectionofhumanrightswhichdoesnottotallyrelyontheCouncilofEuropehasderivedoutononehand,ontheotherhandbeinglackofprovisionsrulinghumanrightsprotectionintheTreatyestablishingECdidnotpreventtheECandthelaterEuropeanUnionfromprovidingcarefortheprotectionagainsttheviolationsonhumanrights.Naturally,howcouldaswellingsupranationalorganizationasEC,whichhasbeencontinuallystrengtheningitspowerinallsocialaspects,doesnotinvolveinhumanrightsissuesespeciallywhentheconsciousnessofhumanrightsnowadaysbecomemoresignificantbothininternationalandnationalstages?RegardingtoEU,Theprotectionsystemhasbeenformedinthreeaspects.
Firstofall,thelegislationintheMemberStatesofEU.SincetherewerenoMemberStatesofEU(EC)whichaccedestotheCommunitywithoutbeingamemberoftheCouncilofEurope,andaccordingtotheConvention,itimposeobligationsontheMemberStatesthattheyshouldensurethattheinternallawsandpracticescomplywiththehumanrightsstandardssetoutintheinstruments.VerymemberstatesinEUhaverecognizetheprinciplesderivedfromtheConventionandincorporatedthemsomehowintonationallaws,mostimportantly,providedconstitutiveprotectionasthebasiclegalresourceforhumanrightspr

otection.ForexampleinGermany,BasicLaw(Grundgesetz)Art1to19deliverexplicitprovisionsevenbeyondtheConvention;thesamecaseasPartVIII(§71-85)inConstitutionofDenmark;inBritaintheActofHumanRightscameintoforceon2October2000steersextendingaways,inwhichtheConventioncanbeusedbeforedomesticcourts.Certainly,accordingtotheclassichumanrightslessons,thebasicprotectionofhumanrightscouldonlybeaffordedatthenationallevelthroughnationallegislationandexciseofauthoritativepower.
Secondly,theinstitutionsandlegislationattheEUlevelactsalsowithhighrespecttothehumanrightsprotection.TheEUhasshoweditscommitmenttohumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsandhasexplicitlyconfirmedtheEU'sattachmenttofundamentalsocialrightseversinceitsestablishment.
TheAmsterdamTreatyestablishedproceduresintendedtosecuretheirprotection.Itwasascertained,asageneralprinciple,thattheEuropeanUnionshouldrespecthumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms,uponwhichtheUnionis

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

founded.Forthefirsttimeaprocedureisintroduced,accordingtowhichsevereandcontinuingviolationsofFundamentalRightscanleadtosuspensionofvotingandotherrightsofamemberstate,iftheUniondeterminedtheexistenceofaseriousandpersistentbreachoftheseprinciplesbythatMemberState.AstotheCandidatecountries,theyshouldalsorespecttheseprinciplestojointheUnion.Furthermore,IthasalsogiventheEuropeanCourtofJusticethepowertoensurerespectoffundamentalrightsandfreedomsbytheEuropeaninstitutions.Inaccordancewiththeinnerrequirementfortheimplementationofdevelopmentcooperationoperations,inordertoreachobjectiveofdevelopingandconsolidatingdemocracy,EUalsoneeditsrulerespectingforhumanrights.SuchcaseswehaveareforinstancetheEUCouncil’sregulationonhumanrights,CouncilRegulation(EC)No975/199andCouncilRegulation(EC)No976/1999forexample,areaimedatprovidingtechnicalandfinancialaidforoperationstopromoteandprotectofcivilandpoliticalrightsaswellaseconomic,socialandculturalrightsetc.
Likewise,attheirmeetinginCologneinJune1999,EUleadersdeclaredthatinrespecttothecurrentstageofprogressoftheEuropeanUnion,thefundamentalrightsapplicableatUnionlevelshouldbepushedforward,namelybeconsolidatedinaCharterandtherebymademoreevident.Theyargued,thatthelegalresourcesofhumanrightsprotectioncomefromnotonlytheEuropeanConventionofHumanRight,butalsofromvariousinternationalconventionsdrawnupbytheCouncilofEuropeaswellastheUnitedNationsandtheInternationalLaborOrganization,theyalsoincludeEUtreatiesthemselvesandfromthecaselawoftheEuropeanCourtofJustice.Asaresult,aCharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion(theCharterhereinafter)wassketchout,whichhighlightedtheEU’srespectforhumanrights,forfundamentalfreedomsandfortheprincipleofdemocracythroughlistingmorerightsamoreprecisedefinitionofthecommonvaluescomparingtheearlydocumentsincludingtheConvention.WewillcontinuetoconcentrateontheCharterinpoint3sinceithasbeenintegratedinthedraftConstitutionasanoutstandingachievement.
Finally,theopinionandcase-lawofEuropeanCourtofJustice(ECJhereafter)alsohaveimmenseimpactontheestablishmentoftheinstrumentofhumanrightsprotectionwithinEU.
AlthoughthejurisprudencedevelopedbytheECJrecognizestheConventionasthestandard-setterincasesinwhichtheCourthastoconsideranddecideahumanrightsissue,sincetherewerenorelevantlegislationexistedintheframeoftheCommunity,theECJfurnishitselfpowerinthisaspectbymeansofcase-law.Earlierin1974,theECJfirstmadereferencetotheECHRintheNoldjudgment,inwhichtheECJemphasizeditscommitmenttofundamentalhumanrightsbasedontheconstitutionaltraditionsoftheMemberStates’fundamentalrightsformanintegralpartofthegeneralprinciplesoflawwhichtheCourtenforces.Inassuringtheprotectionofsuchrights,theCourtisrequiredtobaseitselfontheconstitutionaltraditionscommontotheMemberStatesandthereforecouldnotallowmeasures,whichareincompatiblewiththef

undamentalrightsrecognizedandguaranteedbytheconstitutionsofsuchStates.TheECJdeclared,thattheinternationaltreatiesontheprotectionofhumanrightsinwhichtheMemberStateshavecooperatedortowhichtheyhaveadheredcouldalsosupplyindicationswhichmaybetakenintoaccountwithintheframeworkofCommunitylaw.
Thatimplied,evenwithoutclearregulationsinthetreaties,theremedyagainstviolationonhumanrightscouldalsobeprovidedwithintheframeworkoftheCommunityinrespectforthecommontraditionsappliedtotheMemberStates,andinconnectionwithwehavementionedabouttheMemberStates’above,theprinciplesandresourceappliedtotheMemberStatesderivedfromtheCouncilofEurope.ThusaEUstandardcouldbeestablishedbytransformaratingcomparisonofthemembers’legalsystemstothecase-lawinECJinrespectforhumanrights.
Inthiscontext,theECHRservesasonlyanalternativesourceofknowledge,becausebasedonthegraduallyincreasedlegalresource-fromthecommonprinciplesappliedtothememberstatestothelegislationofEUinstitutionsandthecase-lawdevelopedbytheECJitselfaswellasthesyntheticallyCharterofFundamentalRights,theECJhasbeenenabledtodeliberateandjudgecasesrelyingonsufficientrecoursesexistedinEUbodyinconnectionwithhumanrightswithoutreferringtotheECHR.Inasimilarcase,Cinéthèque,TheCourtmadeamoveforward:Itexpressedthenormativestatementaboutrespectforhumanrightsasaconditionforlawfulnessasaninstitutionalduty:itisthedutyofthisCourttoensuretheobservanceoffundamental

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

rightsinthefieldofCommunitylaw,asstatedbytheCourt.Inthisway,theCourtofUniongraduallyenablesitselftobreakinthefieldofexcisingmorepowerinhumanrightsprotection.
Baseduponthreeaspectsabove,itisreasonabletobeawareof,thatbeforethedraftConstitutionforEuropematerialized,italreadyexistedtwodefactomechanismssupervisingandprovidinglegalprotectionforhumanrightsinthescopeofEuropeanUnion.OneofthemistheCouncilofEuropebasedinStrasbourg,whichprovidesbasicstandardofhumanrightsviatheConventionandotherguidelinemechanisms,andoverseesitsenforcementwiththejudiciarybody:theEuropeanCourtofHumanRights(ECtHRhereafter).Theothersystem,however,wasgraduallyestablishedduringtheprogressofEU,whichconsistsoftwolegislativebodiesinMembersStatesandUnionlevelrespectively,andtheECJasthejuridicalinstrument.Thetwosystems,however,arenotdefinitelydistinguishedwitheachother,butoverlapandworkincoordination.Becauseontheonehand,thefifteenEuropeancountriesmadecommitmenttorespecttheECHR,andagreedtosubmitthemselvestothejurisdictionofECtHRinStrasbourg,inspiteofthattheyhavetransferredsomesovereigncompetencetoBrussels.Ontheotherhand,theECtHRstillplaysaroleasaneffectivecodirectoroftheECHRlegalregime,whichmaintainitsunofficialpartnershipwiththeECJ,whoseowndoctrineobligesittohonortheECtHRwhenevertheConventionisrelevant.Moreover,theEUisstilllackinginamplelegislationwithrespecttohumanrights.ThemainworkofECJistoensurethatEUlawisnotinterpretedandapplieddifferentlyinMemberState.However,thecurrentcircumstancesmightbechangedaccordingtothenewConstitutionforEurope.
3thedraftConstitutionwiththeincorporatedCharter
OneofthemostoutstandingaccomplishmentsofthedraftConstitutionisincorporationoftheCharterofFundamentalRightsintotheConstitution.TheCharter,initsthreeyears’life,hasobtainedappreciationsfromallaroundthoughithasnotyetlegalbindingforce.InordertoanalyzetheeffectoftheCharterontheEUhumanrightssystem,wefirstexamineatfirsttheCharteritself,thenbasedontheanalyzeoflegalstatusoftheCharter,weconcentrateontherelationshipoftheCharterintheConstitutionandECHRaswellasthepossibletwocourtssystemcouldbeoccur.
3.1thecontentoftheCharter
TheCharterwasdesignedasapoliticalandlegalobjectiveofEUwhiletheEUhasenteredamoreresolutelypoliticalphaseofintegration.AstheEuropeanCommissionstatedinitsCommunicationofSeptember2000:“TheCharteris

amajormilestoneforEuropeasapoliticalforce,whichisevolvingintoanintegratedareaoffreedom,securityandjustice,simplyasaconsequenceofcitizenship.Itisanindispensableinstrumentofpoliticalandmorallegitimacy,bothforthecitizensofEuropeinrelationtopoliticians,administrationsandnationalpowersandforeconomicandsocialoperators.”Besides,itwasconsideredthatthelistofrightscontainedintheCharteroffersamoreprecisedefinitionofthecommonvaluesthatmustberespectedinawiderenvironmentalentitybymeansofestablishingacommonlanguageonfundamentalrightsinEU.
TheCharterpresentsbetterpracticalprotectionforfundamentalrightsintheEU.MostoftheserightsareindicatedinboththecaselawoftheECJandjafs6oftheTreatyonEuropeanUnion.However,withthereferenceoftheCharter,itisanticipated,theEUcitizensneedneithertoconsultthecaselawoftheECJnortoreadthejafssofthecomplextreaties,inwhichtheprovisionsrefertoyetagainothersourcessuchastheECHRandtheconstitutionaltraditionsofMemberStates,inordertogetaclearconsciousnessoftheirrights.Indeed,thejafssintheCharteraregroupedexplicitlyaroundsixfundamentalvalues:dignity,freedoms,equality,solidarity,citizenshipandjustice.Whilemostoftherightslistedaregrantedtoeveryone,somecertainrightsaregrantedtospecificgroupsofpeople:i.e.children,workersUnioncitizens,CitizensoftheUnionandnationalsofnon-membercountriesresidingintheUnion
Aswehavementionedinpoint2,theChartercouldberegardasasyncretismbymeansofabsorbingrightsfrombroaderrecoursesbesidestheECHR.ThusthecontentoftheCharterisbroaderthanECHRprovides,whiletheECHRisrestrictedonlytocivilandpoliticalrights.ForexamplethejafsII8intheCharterprotectionofpersonaldataisderivedfromjafs286ECTreaty;Directive95/46/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandtheCouncil;jafs8ECHR;CouncilofEuropeConventionof28January1981fortheProtectionofIndividualswithregardtoAutomaticProcessingofPersonalData;jafsII102.Paragraph2righttocons

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

cientiousobjectionmightbedevelopedfromnationalconstitutionaltraditions;moretypicalisjafsII-18righttoasylumcomesfromboththejafs63ECTreatyandProtocolsrelatingtotheUnitedKingdomandIrelandannexedtotheTreatyofAmsterdamandtoDenmark.ThesamecaseswecanciteinallplacesfromtheCharter,whichreflectsthenaturelooserelationbetweentheCharterandtheECHRandotherdocumentsofCouncilofEurope.
SoaccordingtothecontentoftheCharter,itissensibletosummarizeitasaselfsufficientconstitutionallegalsourceprovidingadequateandcompleteprotectionforhumanrights.
3.2thechangeofthelegalcharacteristicoftheCharter
TheCharterwassupposedtofunctionasasymbolthatwould“counterbalancetheeuroandbecomepartoftheiconographyofEuropeanintegrationandcontributebothtotheidentityofandidentificationwithEurope”whenitwasfinallysignedintheIGCinNice.SincetheCharterwasnotintegratedintoEUtreaties,whichledtonon-bindingforcestatus.However,theCharteritselfseemstohavealreadypavedawaytoitsincorporationintoEUtreatyasaconstitutional“billofrights”.BecauseithascreatedpotentialandprovidedamoresolidbasisforthecommitmentoftheEUinstitutionstotheprotectionoffundamentalrights.ThisisthedeficiencyinEUTreaties,whichshouldbecomplementedsoonerorlater.ItisalsounambiguousthattheEUinstitutions,whichhaveproclaimedtheCharter,wouldcommitthemselvestorespecttheCharter.
Asaresult,thenontheonehandtheChartermadeEUcitizensbettertounderstandtheextentoftheirrightstodefendagainstviolationsonhumanrights.SothattheyshouldbecapableofreferringtotheCharterwhentheychallengeanydecisionagainsttheirdeservedfundamentalrightstakenbyEUinstitutionsorbyMemberStatesimplementingEUlaw.Ontheotherhand,theEUInstitutionshouldactontheCharterwhenevertheydrewpoliciesandsettledisputesaccordingtopetition.Asalogicconsequence,theECJasjudiciarypartshouldalsoregardtheCharterasabindinginter-institution

alagreement.Itwasyetexactlythereality.ShortaftertheproclamationoftheCharter,theEuropeancourtspublishednewcaselawestablishedreferredtotheCharter.Untilearlyxxxx,theAdvocatesGeneralofECJhadreferredtotheCharterin14ofthe23casestheyhandledinrelationtohumanrights.TheCourtofFirstInstancehasalsoactedontheCharter.Inasignificantjudgmentof3MayxxxxtheCourtevenchangedtherulesgoverningindividualaccesstotheEuropeancourts,makingreferencetojafs47oftheCharter,whichguaranteesindividualswhoserightsareviolatedtherighttoaneffectiveremedybeforeatribunal.
Inanycaseitisobviousfromabovediscuss,thoughthedeclaratorycharacteroftheCharterdoesnothavelegalbindingasfarasthelegislativestatusoftheCharterisconcerned,ithasalreadyunchallengeableimpact.SotheincorporationoftheCharterisonlyaquestionoftimeandmethod.NowastheCharterenshrinedintheConstitution,itbecomedirectlybindingifthedraftConstitutioncomeintoforceafterratifiedbymemberstates.
3.3thedifferencefromtheConvention
TheUnionhadcurrentlynocompetencetoadheretotheECHR,whilethiscompetenceisexplicitlyprovidedforinthedraftConstitution,whichstipulatesthattheUnionwillendeavortoadheretotheECHR.Itwasdeclared,thatasfortheincorporationoftheCharterintheConstitution,adhesiontotheECHRdoesnotmeananychangetotheUnion'spowersasdefinedintheConstitution.ThefullincorporationoftheCharterandadhesionarecomplementaryratherthanalternativesteps,becausetheCharterdoesnotfunctionincompetitionwiththeECHR.InthiscontextjafsII52ofthedraftConstitutionmakesclear,thattheCharterrespectstheConvention,itsprotocols,andthecaselawdevelopedbytheEuropeanCourtofHumanRights.Theruleseemssimple:therightsandlibertiessharedbytheConventionandtheCharterhavethesamemeaninginbothtexts,evenifthewordingoftheCharterisdifferent,eitherinanattempttoupdatetheConventionstextwrittenin1950ortocreateashorterandmorereadilycomprehensibleversion.
However,itisallwhattheCharterandthedraftConstitutionseek?Mostimportantly,whathighlightsintheChartersuchasrespectfortheprincipleofdemocracy,forhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsisnotanewpledge,buttheywhytheCharterreaffirmsexplicitlyandmakesthemperfectly,thenupgradethemtoconstitutiverights?Accordingtomyview,theadhesiontoECHRseekstheminimumsecurityofhumanrights,howeverthereisnoreasontoallegethattheinterpretationrespectingtheConventionmustbeaccuratefortheEU,especiallyalongwiththegrowthoftheCoun

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

cilofEuropethatmanycountriesofEastEuropeattendedincludingRussia.Afterall,thestatusofCouncilofEuropebecomingmorepan-Europeanafteraastonishincreaseofthemembersaftercollapseofthesocialismblockafter1990.ThecriteriaofbeingamemberofCouncilofEuropeisdistinctfromthoseofjointheEU.IftheCouncilofEuropecouldreachcommonunderstandingconsistentwiththehumanrightsissuesthroughitsmechanismsuchasthecommitteeofministers,andachievetheConvention’saimsasprovideremediessuitableforallthemembersunderECHR,then,suchsituationmaybenotthecasetoday.SinceitislikelyunduethatonecanclaimfairandworkingconditioneasilyinlargeeasternEuropeanareawheretheunemploymentrateishighuptoalmost15%;itisalsoimpossibletoenforcesomenewset-updemocraticcountriestobecomeconsciousoftherightofcitizenstogoodadministrationasintheCharterstates,onthecontrary,too.Soaccordingly,theCharteravoidsimposinglimitationsonrightsthatareunlimitedintheConvention,asthiswouldseriouslylowerthelevelofprotectionaffordedbytheCharter.Actually,asitstatesinthefinalreportofworkinggroupofthedraftConstitution:
Thesecondsentenceofjafs52§3oftheCharterservestoclarifythatthisjafsdoesnotpreventmoreextensiveprotectionalreadyachievedorwhichmaysubsequentlybeprovidedfor(i)inUnionlegislationand(ii)insomejafssoftheCharterwhich,althoughbasedontheECHR,gobeyondtheECHRbecauseUnionlawacquishadalreadyreacheda

higherlevelofprotection(e.g.,jafs47oneffectivejudicialprotection,orjafs50ontherightnottobepunishedtwiceforthesameoffence).Thus,theguaranteedrightsintheCharterreflecthigherlevelsofprotectioninexistingUnionlaw.
ThentheCharterfurtherincludesastandstillclause:jafsII53.ItsetsouttopreservethelevelofprotectionalreadyaffordedbyUnion,nationalandinternationallaw,intheirrespectivespheresofapplication,aswellasMemberStates’constitutionsandinternationalagreements.ThisclausealsomakesspecificreferencetotheConvention,stressesthattheChartercannotunderminerightsalreadyguaranteedbythatagreement.Clearly,thatmeansitistheConventionwhichsuppliestheminimumprotectionastheloweststandardbuttheaimoftheCharterofEUistoprovidefundamentalrightsprotectionatahigherlevelthantheConvention,whichfocusdependontheenlargementandtheimprovementofthedemocracyinstitutionalizationofEUitself.
Inthiscontext,asitstatesinthepreambleoftheCharterintheConstitution,theUnionrespectsandinterpreterstheCharterincompliancywiththeECHR,couldbeonlyaschemetorecognizethecurrentcircumstance,whiletheprinciplesofhumanrightsprotectionderivedfromtheCouncilofEuropehavebeengeneralevolutesasconstitutionaltraditionsandinternationalobligationscommontotheMemberStates.
3.4possibleconsequences:twocourtssystem
IftheConstitutionprovidesdifferentprotectionofhumanrightsforEUcitizens,thequestionwilllefttothejudicatoryofEU:whatapossibleprocedurecouldbeforCourtsofEUtoreferquestionsrelatingtotheConventioniftheConstitutioncomeintoforce,inwhichtheaccessiontotheConventionwasexpressedclearlyinjafsI-7.ThoughtheaccessionwouldensureauniformminimumlevelofprotectionacrossEuropeirrespectiveofthelegalactor,itwouldbringtheconflictofjurisprudencebetweentwoCourts-ECJandECtHR.ItwassuggestedthattheECtHRcouldgiveitsadvisoryopinionfortheECJtoapply.However,sensitiveissuestookplace,forexample:whetherjudgesfromcountriesoutsidetheUnionwouldhearcasesrelatingtoEUlaw.Especiallyaswementioned,itissuspectablewhetherwiththerapidexpansionofCouncilofEuropemembershipintheeast,therewillbepossibilitythatthestandardsofprotectionappliedbyECtHRcouldbeweakened.AndwhatcoulddealwiththeappealaccordingtotherightsprovidedbytheCharterbutnotfallinscopeofECHR?Itisnowhardtogivesatisfactoryanswerstothesequestions,however,onethingissure,thattheCourtsofEUshouldacquiremorecompetenceinthispart.
Theoretically,theECJhasplayedthesameroleasECtHRinsomecases.TheECtHRprovidestheultimateremedyagainstrelevantauthorityincasetheapplicantregardsheispersonallyanddirectlythevictimofabreachofoneormorefthesefundamentalrightsbyoneoftheStateswhenalldomesticremedieshasbeenexhausted.Alike,forseveraldecades,theECJhasalsoplayedanimportantroleinensuringtheprotectionoffundamentalrightsinsidetheUnionlegalorder,bydevelopingamethodforthereviewofperformancesoftheUnioninstitutionsforhumanrightsviolations,despitelacki

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

ngofsufficientrelevantprovisionsinTreaties.ThoughtheCourt'sfundamentalrightsjurisprudencewaslimitedtoguaranteethatindividualsareprotectedfromviolationsoftheirfundamentalrightsresultingfromactsofUnioninstitutions,reviewingthecaseofindividualagainstpublicinstitutionsinmemberstateswasalsoinevitableinordertocarryouttheUnionlaw.Suchassertingwouldbemorelegitimatewhentwostepsofjudicialpracticewerecarriedout.NamelytheratificationofaUnion"billofrights"andapplicationofthis"billofrights"totheMemberStates.ThetwoconditionshoweverareexpectedtorealizeiftheConstitutioncomesintoforce.Then,astheCommissionerAntónioVitorinobelieves,baseduponacomplementarilyrelation,TheCharterwillintroduceadegreeofhealthycompetitionbetweenthetwomainsystemsforprotectinghumanrightsonourcontinent,withoutintroducingaschismbetweentheEuropeansystems,”heargues.“Theresultsofsuchcompetitioncanonlybebeneficialtostro

ngerandbetterprotection.”AsIthink,thisistheidealpossibility.Nevertheless,eventhough,itwillbealong-term,graduallyprogress,andtheconcreteview,liesstillbeyondoursight.
4shortconclusions
Accordingtoourdiscussinthisjafs,thedraftConstitutioncontainsabillofrightsforEuropeanUnionthroughincorporationtheCharterofFundamentalRights,whichprovidesaboarderandadvancedfundamentalrightsforEUcitizens.TheCharterwillobtainaccordinglylegalbindingforceifallMemberStatescouldratifytheConstitution,thenitshallstrengthenthecompetenceoftheEUinstitutionsonprotectinghumanrights.AmechanismofhumanrightsprotectionwithinEUscopewillmaterializewithlegalsourcesfrommemberstatesandEUlevelsunderthelightoftheCharterintheConstitution.Corresponding,acompatiblejudiciarysystemcouldoutlineprogressivelywhiletheCourtsofUnionarecapableofplayingthemajorroleinprotectionofhumanrightswithinEUregioninalongrunandasacounterpartofECtHRbasedonthegraduallycompletemechanisminEU.
JustbeforeIfinishtheessay,newscamethattheEUConstitutionSummitfailedinEUleadersmeetinginBrussels,becausePolandandSpainreluctanttoacceptnewlyweightedvotingrightsinthedrafttext,whichwouldgreatlyweakentheinfluenceofthetwocountries.AlthoughtheIrishgovernment,whichwilltakesovertheEUpresidencyinJanuary2004,hasexpressedconcernoverhavingtheconstitutiondebatespilloverintoitsterm,butsincenomajorEUprojecthasbeenpushedthroughwithinasinglepresidency’ssix-monthtermbefore,anewrounddealovertheproposalofEUConstitutioncouldberestartatleastinthesecondhalfof2004.Itisabadnewsbutnotcertainlyadreadfulthingasfarasourtopicisconcerned,aswementionedinthisjafs,theformofaEUhumanrightsprotectionsystemhumanrightsprotectionwillbeonlyaquestionoftime.
Literature:
1,RalphBeddard,HumanRightsandEurope,Cambridgeuniversitypress,1993
2,J.P.Gardner,AspectsofIncorporationoftheEuropeanConventionofHumanRightsintoDomesticLaw,TheBritishInstituteofInternationalandComparativeLaw,1993
3,FritzFabricius,HumanRightsandEuropeanPolitics,BergPublishersLtd,1992
4,LammyBetten&NicholasGrief,EULawandHumanRights,AddisonWesleyLongmanLtd.,1998
5,ElspethGuild&GuillaumeLesieur,TheEuropeanCourtofJusticeontheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights,KluwerLawInternational,1998
6,MicheledeSalvia/MarkE.Villiger,TheBirthofEuropeanHumanRightsLaw,Baden-Baden:NomosVerlag,1998
7,NigelG.Foster,ECLegislationHandbook,BlackstonePressLtd.,1998
8,LizHeffernan,HumanRights-AEuropeanPerspective,ColourBooksLtd,Dublin,1994
9,J.G.Merrills,HumanRightsinEurope,ManchesterUniversityPress,xxxx
10,DarcyS.Binder,TheEuropeanCourtofJusticeandtheProtectionofFundamentalRightsintheEuropeanCommunity,
11,J.H.H.Weiler&SybillaC.Fries,AHumanRightsPolicyfortheEuropeanCommunityandUnion:TheQuestionofCompetences
12,LeslieFriedmanGoldstein&CornelBan,TheRuleofLawandtheEuropeanHumanRightsRegime
13,JWeilerDoestheEuropeanUniontrulyneedaCharterofrights?At1-2,6ELJ,editorial,2000
14,www.europa.eu.int
15,www.coe.int
16,www.jeanmonnetprogram.org
Thenewdraftnamed“DraftTreatyestablishingaConstitutionforEurope”;itwillbestillatreaty.
Seehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3252628.stm
SeePreambleofTUE,alsoofthedraftConstitution
Accordingly,theinherentdignityandoftheequalandinalienablerightsofthehumanisthefoundationoffreedom,justiceandpeaceintheworld,however,theirrationalityofthepublicorgansbringthemostdangerto

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

thehumanright,WWIIforinstance.Andinthisjafs,IdonotdistinguishthedefinitionbetweenHumanRightsandFundamentalRights,inabroadsensetheyhavenodefinitelydifferences.
TheEuropeanCounciladoptedinLaekenDecemberxxxx,seehttp://ue.eu.int/cig/future/futureen.asp?lang=en
Seealsotheforumondraftconstitutionininternet:http://europa.eu.int/futurum/comm/documents/
guidecitoyen_en
Relatedinternationalagreementinc

ludes:TheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticRightsof19December1966,TheInternationalCovenantonEconomic,ConventiononSocialandCulturalRightsof19December1966etc.
Atthe1948CongressofEuropeinTheHague,representativesofEuropeanStatescametogetherwiththeaimofestablishinganorganizationinwhichallofthemwouldcooperatetoconstructaregionwheredemocracyandhumanrightswouldbesafeguarded.
NowOECD
SeeLammyBetten&NicholasGrief,EULawandHumanRights,p53
SeeDarcyS.Binder,TheEuropeanCourtofJusticeandtheProtectionofFundamentalRightsintheEuropeanCommunity,seealsowww.jeanmonnetprogram.org
RelevantmaterialsstayinthewebsiteofCouncilofEuropewww.coe.int,hereIdonotwanttodiscussindetails.
jafs1oftheECHR:“TheHighContractingPartiesshallsecuretoeveryonewithintheirjurisdictiontherightsandfreedomsdefinedinSectionIofthisConvention.”
fromDieBundesregierung,seehttp://eng.bundesregierung.de/top/dokument/
The_Federal_Government
Seehttp://www.folketinget.dk/pdf/constitution.pdf
CompareTheConstitutionUnit,SchoolofPublicPolicy,UCL,1997-xxxxConstitutionalUpdate:HumanRights,seewww.ucl.ac.uk
SeeArt6TEU
SeeArt7TEU
SeeArt49TEU
SeeArt46TEU
Euro-lex,thecontentofRegulationsseehttp://europa.eu.int,undercategoryEur-Lex
ComparethereportofEUcommitteeofJusticeandHomeAffairs,seehttp://europa.eu.int
Nold,[1974]ECR491,decisionof14May1974,compareDinahSheltonTheBoundariesofHumanRightsJurisdictioninEurope,DukeJ.ofComp.&Int'lL.95
Nold,[1974]ECR491,Para13
Currently,theECJstillalmostreferstoECtHRincasethatthetribunalrelatetohumanrightsissue
JoinedCases60and61/84,CinéthèqueSAv.FédérationNationaledesCinémasFrançais[1985]ECR2605,Para26.CompareJ.H.H.Weiler&SybillaC.Fries,AHumanRightsPolicyfortheEuropeanCommunityandUnion:TheQuestionofCompetences,seehttp://www.oup.co.uk/pdf/0-19-829806-4.pdf
IncludingtheEuropeanSocialCharter,theEuropeanCommitteeforthePreventionoftortureandInhumanorDegradingTreatmentorPunishment(CPT),theFrameworkConventionfortheProtectionofNationalMinoritiesetc.Detailsseewww.coe.int
CompareLeslieFriedmanGoldstein&CornelBan,TheRuleofLawandtheEuropeanHumanRightsRegime,p4,seewww.repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/
SeeCommissionoftheEuropeanCommunitiesBrussels,13.9.2000COM(2000)559final
SeeTitleVinPartIIoftheConstitution,whichincludingrighttotakepartinelectionstotheEuropeanParliamentandmunicipalelections,righttomoveandresidefreelywithintheterritoryoftheMemberStatesanddiplomaticandconsularprotectionetc;
Seeabove,includingrightofaccesstoinstitutiondocuments,righttorefercasestotheOmbudsmanandrighttopetitiontheEuropeanParliament.
Comparehttp://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/unit/charte/
Seewww.eurotreaties.com/amsterdamprotocols.pdf
CompareJWeilerDoestheEuropeanUniontrulyneedaCharterofrights?At1-2,6ELJ,editorial,2000
Indeed,theissueoftheCharter'slegalstatus-i.e.whethertomakeitlegallybindingbyincorporatingitintotheTreatyonEUhasbeenraisedevenbytheCologneEuropeanCouncil,whichoriginallylaunchedtheCharterinitiative.TheConventiondrewupthedraftCharterwithaviewtoitspossibleincorporation,andtheEuropeanParliamentvotedinfavorofincorporation.TheNiceEuropeanCouncilalsoconsidersthequestionoftheCharter'slegalstatusduringthegeneraldebateonthefutureoftheEuropeanUnion.
SeeCommissionCommunication,COM(2000)644,11October2000
SeeArtI-7draftConstitution
TheCouncilofEuropehasalready44memberstatesinSeptemberxxxxandremainsopentonewmembers,ontheconditionofbeingdemocraticstates.
CONV354/02,WGII16p.7,Brussels,22Octoberxxxx
TheUnionregardsthepowerofinstrumentsofCouncilofEurope,butinterprettheminEUcontextbytheCourtofUnion.
CompareTheCharterintheEuropeancontext--Twosystemsworkingtogetherforhumanrights,par3.Seehttp://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/unit/charte,accordingtotheappointmentofjudgeinECtHR,theycomefromeachmemberstates,seetheintroductionofCouncilofEurope,www.coe.

int
CompareDarcyS.Binder,The

欧盟宪法草案对欧盟人权保护机制的影响(TheDraftConstitutionan

EuropeanCourtofJusticeandtheProtectionofFundamentalRightsintheEuropeanCommunity,TheJeanMonnetCenterworkingpaper,1995,seehttp://www.jeanmonnetprogram.org/papers/95/

9504ind.html
Thesameasfootnoteabove
Seewww.europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/unit/
charte/en/systems-context-2-systems