4. Citizen’s rights and freedoms

The Reform Treaty raises the protection of the rights of Europe’s citizens to a new level.

The Treaty makes the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally-binding on the Union’s institutions and on the Member States when they are implementing EU law.

The Charter sets out the rights enjoyed by EU citizens. It draws its inspiration from the EU treaties, from
international human rights law and from the Constitutions of the Member States.

The Treaty will allow the Union to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. The European Human Rights Convention, and the European Court of Human Rights which oversees it, are the foundation stones of human rights protection in Europe.