Human rights in the EU
A major concern shared by NGOs in Europe is the failure to address the lack of procedural safeguards for defendants in criminal cases. There are wide discrepancies in standards across the EU – as shown in JUSTICE's research, jointly carried out with the University of Maastricht, Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and University of West England. The project found marked variations in interpretation, notification of rights, disclosure of evidence, and access to (quality) legal advice.
The EU has recognised the problem by agreeing a roadmap for the adoption of procedural safeguards which, over five years, aims to produce uniform standards in the EU for defendants in criminal cases. We are heavily involved, together with a consortium of NGOs (including OSJI, Irish Council of Civil Liberties, Amnesty International and Fair Trials International), in ensuring that these instruments create practical and effective protection.
Following the Lisbon Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights now has binding force across the member states. Not only must EU laws passed in Brussels comply, but member states implementing those laws must also do so. The Charter has the potential to greatly improve human, social and economic rights within the EU. JUSTICE's satellite website documents the evolution of the Charter.
The EU is in the process of acceding to the European Convention on Human Rights. When this happens, it will have to ensure that all its institutions, bodies and agencies act in conformity with the ECHR. Together with the AIRE Centre, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Liberty we have been briefing the working parties on ensuring that applicants to the European Court of Human Rights may make best possible use of the EU’s new obligations.