Brussels, 02/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Convention charged with drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights will be holding another informal meeting, on 3 and 4 May at the European Parliament, to study "horizontal clauses", i.e. the scope of the Charter, relations between the Charter and existing instruments that protect fundamental rights, and possible limits on guaranteed rights. (For more on the Convention's hearing of non-governmental organisations, see EUROPE of 29 April, pages 7 and 8).
It will be recalled that on 28 April was completed a first round of discussions on three categories of rights, -civil and political rights, citizens' rights, and social and economic rights. On the basis of these debates, the Charter Bureau will be drafting a new proposal on social rights.
A press release states that with its three working meetings planned for May (on 11 and 12, 22 and 23, 29 to 31 May, Ed.), the Convention is expected to be ready to examine a final list of these three categories of rights, so as to prepare an initial provisional document for its first plenary meeting on 5 and 6 June. The Portuguese Presidency would consequently be briefed on the progress of the work on the Charter at the European Council in Santa Maria da Feira on 19 and 20 June. (It will be recalled that the Convention President, Roman Herzog, is expected to report to the Feira Summit).