Questions on your rights in the EU? Or your obligations? - Your Europe (2024)

FAQs

What rights do citizens in the European Union have? ›

EU citizens have the right to live, work, study and get married in other EU countries. The EU works to keep Europeans' personal data safe and empowers them as consumers. Citizens have legal protection in any EU country, and criminals can be pursued across borders and repatriated, thanks to the European arrest warrant.

The EU has developed an extensive body of legislation which serves to protect and promote human rights. These laws cover various areas, including non-discrimination, privacy, the right to asylum, data protection, workers' rights, and more.

As an EU national, you have the right to live and move within the EU without being discriminated against on the grounds of nationality. You can also benefit from greater consumer protection than in your home country and, provided you meet certain requirements, can access healthcare anywhere in the EU.

Article 1: Human dignity – everyone has the right to be treated with dignity. Article 2: Right to life – everyone has the right to life, and the death penalty is forbidden. Article 3: Right to integrity of the person – this includes medical consent and the prohibition of certain genetic practices.

Together for Rights campaigns for everyone to enjoy their rights and live as equals in a genuine Union of Equality. Our goal is to show persons with disabilities, their support network and citizens at large what the EU is doing to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively exercise their rights.

The European Convention on Human Rights guarantees certain rights considered to be so important that they are fundamental to democracy and the rule of law. These include the right to life, liberty, fair trials, and freedom of speech and assembly.

Any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, has a right of access to documents of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, whatever their medium. This right is enshrined in article 42 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Your rights

As a national of Ireland or any other EU country – you are automatically also an EU citizen. As such, you can benefit from many important rights under EU law, in particular the right to move freely around Europe to live, work, study or even retire.

As a European Union citizen, you are free to live, work and travel across 27 EU countries. The EU supports the economy and protects your rights, ensuring fairer workplaces, safer products and a clean environment. The EU promotes values like equality, peace and democracy at home and abroad.

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) is the EU's bill of rights. It always binds the EU institutions and the Member States when they act within the scope of EU law. However, it is far from easy to assess whether a concrete case falls within the scope of EU law.

What are the basic laws of the EU? ›

The European Union is based on the rule of law. This means that every action taken by the EU is founded on treaties that have been approved democratically by its members. EU laws help to achieve the objectives of the EU treaties and put EU policies into practice.

The Draft Constitution was completed and presented to the President of the EU by the President of the Convention on July 18, 2003. The final version of the proposed constitution, called the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, was signed by the heads of state on October 29, 2004.

First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes. Fourth Amendment: protects against unreasonable search and seizure.

The European Union's respect for human rights is based on Articles 6, 7 and 13 of the Treaty on European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Its activity focuses on combating discrimination, racism and xenophobia and on protecting minorities in fields such as asylum, immigration or employment.

in a speech to the European Parliament on 17 January 1989 “European leaders have said many times that membership means accepting the “four freedoms” of goods, capital, services and people.