Paris, 28/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - During a colloquium that took place in the French Assemble National, the French Minister for European Affairs, Pierre Moscovici felt that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights must above all be a political act in nature and that the question of its legal value must remain suspended until the end of its drafting. "It seem logical only to question the binding nature of this Charter once we know the draft drawn up by the Convention," said the Minister, while underlining that "the more this text is cutting, strong, concise and readable, more the question of its legal value and it future incorporation into the Treaty will be pertinent."
Mr. Moscovici recognised that certain difficulties have appeared notably concerning the economic and social rights. "Certain Nordic countries and our British friends oppose us on the scope of these rights," he indicated, specifying that "the right to negotiate and conclude these collective conventions, the right to strike, but also the right to a minimum wage or at least the incorporation into the European Charter of such rights have been contested by some."
A first draft of the Charter should be available on the 11 May. The members of the convention may then present their amendments in view of the vote foreseen during the plenary of next 5 and 6 June.