Brussels, 19/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Convention responsible for drafting the text of the future EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, closed its discussions on Wednesday, Article by Article, of all the civil, political, social and economic rights that European citizens will see recognised in the framework of their relations with Community institutions. The Convention examined a total of 50 Articles that will be preceded by a preamble. Certain difficulties remain notably with regard to the formulating of the Article relating to the more contested economic and social rights. It is now up to the Convention's presidium to reach the last compromises on the basis of talks over the last days and the general structure of the text, so as to release a complete preliminary draft of the Charter, next 28 July. The members of the Convention will then be able to pass on their eventual comments to the chairman Roman Herziog before the next session (11-13 September). Separate meetings will enable the components of the Convention (representative from the Heads of government - national Parliaments - European Parliament) to individually speak on this draft, which may still be revised before a final adoption during a meeting on 25 and 26 September.
This week's meeting started with the examining of Article 40 on the right of migrant workers for equal treatment. The introduction of such a right has been challenged by a section of the members who do not want to grant specific rights to citizens of third countries, but a majority was formed to allow for the inclusion of this right in the Charter. Other Articles concerning health rights, social protect or even access to public services have also been very controversial. The Convention also discussed the right of handicapped people and issues relating to the protection of the environment. On this last point, the talks showed that the preservation of the environment must not only be understood as a right, but also a a duty for each. The including of this notion of duty in the preliminary draft of the Charter was strongly defended by the French Senator Hubert Haenel.
During a press conference, the French Socialist Pervenche Beres insisted on the fact that several articles relating to economic and social rights (she notably cited access to health, social security and public services) still raises problems. "The battle within the Convention is not yet over," she said before criticising "a counter proposal from the EPP that arrived at the last minute" and of which she fears that it may be taken into account by the presidium during the finalising of the complete preliminary draft of the Charter. She also reproached the German Christian Democrat Ingo Friedrich, who is its author, of having thus wanted to "short-circuit the Convention."