Protection of Fundamental Rights in EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Protection of Fundamental Rights in EU - Essay Example In most of the European countries, these rights have already been there. Some of the erstwhile communist countries naturally did not have many civil liberties, but with the fall of Communism in Europe, these rights have been restored. What made the European union fundamental rights unique was that the rights are equal to all, disregarding the race, colour, ethnicity and nationality. The political leanings of the countries too did not matter any more. These rights have come as a gift to many of these countries, which have not seen much of fundamental rights for a long time. It also has given an additional dignity to the European Union and its citizens, an identity of their own, a distinguished existence. "Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity; it is based on the principles of democracy and the rule of law. It places the individual at the heart of its activities, by establishing the citizenship of the Union and by creating an area of freedom, security and justice4". Human dignity, Right to life, Right to the integrity of the person, Prohibition of torture or inhuman treatment, Prohibition of slavery and forced labour, Right to Liberty and Security, respect for private and family life, protection of personal data, right to marry and right to found a family, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, freedom of assembly and of association, freedom of the arts and sciences, right to education are just to name a few. European countries always had fundamental rights and liberties5; only they had never taken a consistent form of a group or a union. Fundamental rights have really empowered the European union citizens and to see that, there is no other better place than European Court of Justice where the citizens vociferously fight for these new rights that have become theirs now. With this, EU has tried to wipe out centuries of inner struggles, bitter wars and unending conflicts. It has also tried to wipe out the racial discrimination, and elimination like that of Jews. It is a great step in human rights, where all citizens were awarded the same enshrined rights without any prejudice or favour. There is no doubt that European Union is rather obsessed about these rights and the Court of Justice attaches tremendous importance to them. There are various reasons for this obsession. European Union is not a body with an authority; this means, it does not have a divine, inherited right to be there, like a monarchy. As it does not belong to any particular country, it also does not have a chosen right, or a right of authority. European Union itself is a created institution, created for future safeguarding of European countries, as a last resort to save Europe from inner bickering that had not only led to many wars, but two all consuming World Wars, bringing countries all over the world into its orbit. It had also witnessed an extremely bloody French Revolution, an equally unpleasant Russian revolution that led into communism and a considerable number of Eastern European countries