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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 3

Written Answers. - EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

45 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the likely outcome of the discussion on the status of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights which is due to take place at the Nice Summit. [22359/00]

The European Council meeting informally in Biarritz on 13-14 October approved the text of the draft European charter of fundamental rights. The European Council at its meeting in Cologne on 3-4 June 1999 agreed that a draft document should be presented in advance of the European Council in Nice in December 2000. It was later agreed that this document should be presented to the informal European Council in Biarritz.

The draft will now be presented to the European Council in Nice on 9-10 December. On that occasion, the Council will propose to the European Parliament and the Commission that, together with the Council, they should solemnly proclaim a European charter of fundamental rights. The status of the charter may be discussed at Nice but it is likely that further discussions will take place at a later date. I repeat that it is our view that the charter should remain a political declaration.
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