Fighting discrimination

Fighting for freedom and Fundamental Rights
Clearly fundamental rights are non-negotiable and cannot, in any event, be circumscribed. When limitations are introduced in the name of so-called security, the terrorists achieve their objectives.

It is imperative that we find solutions to the real threats posed by terrorism without compromising the very essence of our societies built on fundamental rights and freedoms.

The Commission must put some order in the area of freedom, justice and security. For many years, both the Commission and the Member States have been proposing and implementing a patch-work of measures, most of them adopted without real Parliamentary scrutiny and falling outside the purview of the ECJ. A radical review of all the measures in place is called for and a coherent package needs to be presented and decided upon with the full agreement of Parliament.
Furthermore, we believe that not enough prominence has been given to fundamental rights over recent years. With the entry into force of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, we want the Commissioner charged with this portfolio to take significant measures to combat discrimination at all levels and ensure that fundamental rights form the backbone of all EU policy.

We also insist on real progress in the freedom of movement of people. Insufficient emphasis has been given to citizens and their actual ability to move freely across our Union. This includes necessary progress in the area of civil law, so that citizens can be certain that their rights will be safeguarded wherever they are in the Union. Care should also be given to facilitating procedures for citizens that have chosen to move around the Union, in areas such as succession rights and divorce settlement.

Both Europol and Eurojust must be reviewed in order to ensure maximum scrutiny by parliament. And the European Public prosecutor's office should be established, initially dealing with financial fraud - and then ideally through the extension of its remit - to serious cross border crime.

Finally, freedom and fundamental rights also means a pluralist media and we will insist once again on the need to look at the concentration of media within the Union in a critical way and determine an appropriate way forward. In our mind this will require EU legislation in one form or another.