The European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights sets out a number of civil, social, economic and political rights that should be available to everyone. It also aims to protect those at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
When the Treaty of Lisbon came into force in December 2009, the Charter was enshrined into EU law, giving it binding legal force in most Member States.
This new status will help poorer and socially excluded people by ensuring that their needs and rights are taken into account when the EU develops new social and economic policies.
Fighting discrimination
Those most vulnerable to poverty and social exclusion include women, older people, disabled people, immigrants and minority groups like the Roma.
The Charter will help them as it prohibits discrimination on a range of grounds including race, colour, gender, ethnic or social origin, disability, age or membership of a national minority.
The Charter also includes specific articles that recognise and respect the rights of elderly and disabled people to play an active and inclusive role in society.
At least 84 million people in the EU live at risk of poverty – they often have limited access to education, health care and social protection.
Article 34 of the Charter provides for the right of access to decent social security benefits and services which offer protection in cases such as maternity, illness, industrial accidents, dependency or old age, and when people lose their jobs.
The article goes on to state: “In order to combat social exclusion and poverty, the Union recognises and respects the right to social and housing assistance so as to ensure a decent existence for all those who lack sufficient resources…”
The Charter also recognises that everyone has the right to education and training, as well as access to health care.
The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion will highlight the rights people have to live a dignified life, and help to publicise the goals of the Charter, as well as its new status in EU law.
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