Steps towards the future?

These will be three intense days for the European Union. On December 12-14 a series of events are on the agenda: (proclamation of the Charter of Rights, signature of the Reform Treaty, EU Council) in Strasbourg, Lisbon and Brussels which will deeply affect the future of the Twenty-Seven Member States.CHAMBER TIMETABLE. The week began with the inauguration of the plenary session of the European Parliament gathered December 10-13 in Strasbourg with a very busy schedule. The chamber had been called to definitively adopt the directive “aimed at avoiding or preventing air pollutants emission”- rapporteur HOLGER KRAHMER affirmed-, and to define “the appropriate objectives for the quality of environment air”. The hemicycle also discussed the Ottawa Convention (on anti-person mines prohibition), wine production, harmonization of Community population censuses data. Among the major topics figured the 2008 budget approval establishing total payment at 120,3 billion euro. According to the financial report, “Kosovo and Palestine appropriation increased and a budget line for the World Fund against AIDS was created.” On Tuesday December 11 the ceremony for the Sacharov Award for freedom of thought, was assigned for the year 2007 to Sudanese lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman. “The Prize – said the jury, represented by the political delegates of the Assembly- intends to grant recognition to his political commitment and his legal assistance to the victims of civil war in Sudan”. CEREMONIES AND SUMMIT. The “solemn proclamation” of the EU Fundamental Rights was scheduled for Wednesday December 12, at the presence of the President of the Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso and of the Council president José Socrates. The Charter, defined in Nice in the year 2000, will become binding for institutions and acceding States. The Court of Justice is responsible for its enactment. HANS-GERT POETTERING explained that “the purpose of this symbolic act is to grant grater visibility for the public, and to lay the legal basis” of the text “within the context of Treaty reform”. In its turn the Treaty, which replaces the 2004 Constitution and on which the 27 had reached an agreement at the Lisbon summit in mid October, was signed on December 13 in the Monastery of Jerónimos, in the Protuguese capital. The following day, December 14, the heads of government and State will move to Brussels to take part in the last summit under the Portuguese presidency. “The debated topics refer to guidelines for the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy, the Bali Conference on Climate Changes and energy “, stated a note by the Presidency. Immigration policies, strengthening of judicial and police cooperation will be equally debated. The outcome of the EU-Africa summit will be examined.RIGHT TO LIFE, RESPECT OF THE FAMILY. As refers to the Charter of Rights, for which Poland and the United Kingdom obtained special derogations to their application, it will be enforced with the Reform Treaty on January 1st 2009, unless Member States don’t comply with ratification procedures. As clarified in the legal note of the EU Parliament, the Charter of Rights “includes in a single text all the civil, political, economic and social rights of European citizens and of all those living in the territory of the Union”. These rights are divided into six major chapters. Firstly, “dignity”: the right to life, the right to the integrity of the individual, torture prohibition, forced labour prohibition . The second chapter refers to “freedoms”: respect of private and family life, right to marriage and to family, freedom of thought, of conscience and religion, freedom of expression and information, freedom of association, right to education….CITIZEN PROTECTION. “Equality” is the third chapter of the protections envisaged by the Charter: equality before the law, non-discrimination, cultural, religious and language diversity, equal treatment of men and women, rights of minors and senior citizens, social integration of people with disabilities. In the fourth chapter on “solidarity”, are included, among others, the rights of workers, security and social assistance, health protection. The fifth chapter on “citizenship”, comprises the right to vote and eligibility to European Parliament elections as well as the right to good administration, the right to access documents and diplomatic and consular protection. Finally, the sixth chapter, “justice”, with the presumption of innocence and the right to defense.