” “"December 12th will remain an epoch-making date for European integration. And today’s is the most important ceremony I have ever attended all through my political career". José Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal and president on duty of the EU Council, as he spoke at the EU Parliament during the proclamation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, recalled that the EU "is at the service of the citizens, promotes their dignity and individual and social rights", including health, work and the protection of the environment. "This he added is the Charter of equality and solidarity. It proves the EU takes care of the rights of children and young people, of the care of the elderly. It is a Europe that rejects any form of discrimination and protects political and economic freedoms, as it has done for 50 years of our common history". After the speech of the president of the EU Commission, Barroso, the three institutional leaders signed the Charter. Euro-sceptics, far rightists and part of the leftists protested from the floor and asked for a European referendum for people’s approval of the Charter and the Lisbon Treaty. ” “
