” “The European Parliament, meeting in plenary session in Brussels, approved the Chart of the Fundamental Rights of the Union with large majority (534 votes in favour; 85 "no"; and 21 abstentions), giving President Poettering the mandate "to proclaim it solemnly, before the signature of the Treaty of Reform, together with the president of the European Council and the president of the Commission". The report drawn up by German MEP Jo Leinen included also the date of the ceremony, fixed on December 12th in Strasbourg. The text approved by the parliament points out "the legally binding status of the Chart", an element which would make the Treaty of Lisbon capable of safeguarding "the substance" of the European Constitution signed in 2004 but not ratified. Moreover, approving an amendment proposed by the Green Party, the Assembly "made an urgent appeal" to Poland and the United Kingdom (which had obtained a Chart derogation through the opt-out clause) "to make all possible efforts to reach consensus on the unlimited application of the Chart, anyway". On the other hand, the hemicycle rejected (115 in favour; 513 against; 8 abstentions) an alternative resolution, submitted by the "Euroskeptical" group Independence and Democracy, which did not accept the binding character of the Chart of Rights.” “
