European Parliament votes overwhlemingly for Charter of Fundamental Rights

12.00.00am GMT Thu 16th Mar 2000

The European Parliament report by Andrew Duff, Liberal Democrat MEP for Eastern England, and Johannes Voggenhuber (Austria, Greens/EFA) on the Charter of Fundamental Rights was adopted on Thursday by the European Parliament by 344 in favour and 107 against.

The Report makes three key proposals:

• The Charter must be integrated into the Treaty and be legally binding;

• The European Union should obtain legal personality and accede to the European Convention of Human Rights;

• The Charter must be justiciable in the European Court of Justice.

The Report will inform the Parliament's decision on whether or nor to accept the Charter.

Andrew Duff said:

"The challenge is to write a Charter which is so good that Member States will find it shameful to refuse to accept it within the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice.

"The European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights represents a chance to build a modern, post-national society."