Editing European Union (section)

===Freedom, security and justice===
{{Main|Area of freedom, security and justice}}
{{Further|Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union}}
{{See also|eu-LISA|Eurojust|European Institute for Gender Equality|European Union Agency for Asylum|European Union Agency for Cybersecurity|European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training|Europol|Frontex|Fundamental Rights Agency}}

[[File:04CFREU-Article2-Crop.jpg|thumb|upright=1|The [[Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union]] contains a wide range of political, social, and economic rights for EU citizens.]]

Since the creation of the European Union in 1993, it has developed its competencies in the area of justice and home affairs; initially at an intergovernmental level and later by supranationalism. Accordingly, the union has legislated in areas such as [[European Arrest Warrant|extradition]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=European arrest warrant replaces extradition between EU Member States |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/extradition/fsj_criminal_extradition_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> family law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility (Brussels II) |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/judicial_cooperation_in_civil_matters/l33194_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> asylum law,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minimum standards on the reception of applicants for asylum in Member States |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/free_movement_of_persons_asylum_immigration/l33150_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> and criminal justice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Specific Programme: 'Criminal Justice' |url=http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/justice_freedom_security/judicial_cooperation_in_criminal_matters/l10110_en.htm |access-date=5 September 2008 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref>

The EU has also established agencies to co-ordinate police, prosecution and civil litigations across the member states: [[Europol]] for police co-operation, [[CEPOL]] for training of police forces<ref>{{Cite web |title=European police office now in full swing |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/police/europol/fsj_police_europol_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> and the [[Eurojust]] for co-operation between prosecutors and courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eurojust coordinating cross-border prosecutions at EU level |url=http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/fsj/criminal/eurojust/fsj_criminal_eurojust_en.htm |access-date=4 September 2007 |publisher=Europa web portal}}</ref> It also operates the [[EUCARIS]] database of vehicles and drivers, the [[Eurodac]], the [[European Criminal Records Information System]], the [[European Cybercrime Centre]], [[FADO]], [[Public Register of Travel and Identity Documents Online|PRADO]] and others.

Prohibitions against discrimination have a long standing in the treaties. In more recent years, these have been supplemented by powers to legislate against discrimination based on race, religion, disability, age, and sexual orientation.<ref name="art2(7) Amsterdam" group="lower-alpha">See Article 2 (7) of the [[Amsterdam Treaty]] on [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11997D/htm/11997D.html#0001010001 eur-lex.europa.eu]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217024604/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/treaties/dat/11997D/htm/11997D.html#0001010001|date=17 February 2008}}.</ref> The treaties declare that the European Union itself is "founded on the values of respect for [[human dignity]], [[liberty|freedom]], democracy, [[equality before the law|equality]], the [[rule of law]] and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to [[minority group|minorities]]&nbsp;... in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail."<ref>[[wikisource:Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union/Title I: Common Provisions#Article_2|Article 2, Treaty on European Union (consolidated 1 December 2009)]]</ref> By virtue of these powers, the EU has enacted legislation on [[sexism]] in the work-place, [[ageism|age discrimination]], and [[racism|racial discrimination]].<ref group="lower-alpha">Council Directive 2000/43/EC of 29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin (OJ L 180, 19 July 2000, pp. 22–26); Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (OJ L 303, 2 December 2000, pp. 16–22).</ref>

In 2009, the [[Lisbon Treaty]] gave legal effect to the [[Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union]]. The charter is a codified catalogue of [[fundamental right]]s against which the EU's legal acts can be judged. It consolidates many rights which were previously recognised by the Court of Justice and derived from the "constitutional traditions common to the member states".<ref>Case 11/70, Internationale Handelsgesellschaft v. Einfuhr und Vorratstelle für Getreide und Futtermittel; Article 6(2) of the Maastricht Treaty (as amended).</ref> The Court of Justice has long recognised fundamental rights and has, on occasion, invalidated EU legislation based on its failure to adhere to those fundamental rights.<ref name="europarl-rights">{{Cite web |title=Respect for fundamental rights in the EU – general development |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/2_1_1_en.htm |access-date=6 September 2008 |website=European Parliament Fact Sheets |publisher=The [[European Parliament]]}}</ref>

Signing the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] (ECHR) is a condition for EU membership.<ref group="lower-alpha">And is effectively treated as one of the Copenhagen criteria. [http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta08/ERES1610.htm Assembly.coe.int.] This is a political and not a legal requirement for membership. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626175941/http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=%2FDocuments%2FAdoptedText%2Fta08%2FERES1610.htm|date=26 June 2008}}.</ref> Previously, the EU itself could not accede to the convention as it is neither a state<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=Full list - Treaty Office - publi.coe.int |url=https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=Treaty Office |language=en-GB}}</ref> nor had the competence to accede.<ref group="lower-alpha">{{Cite web |title=? |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/ALL/?uri=CELEX%253A61994V0002 |access-date=21 December 2022 |website=EUR-Lex |language=en}}</ref> The Lisbon Treaty and Protocol 14 to the ECHR have changed this: the former binds the EU to accede to the convention while the latter formally permits it.

The EU is independent from the Council of Europe, although they share purpose and ideas, especially on the rule of law, human rights and democracy. Furthermore, the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] and [[European Social Charter]], as well as the [[source of law]] for the [[Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union|Charter of Fundamental Rights]] are created by the Council of Europe. The EU has also promoted human rights issues in the wider world. The EU opposes the death penalty and has proposed its worldwide abolition. Abolition of the death penalty is a condition for EU membership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EU Policy on Death Penalty |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/human_rights/adp/index_en.htm |access-date=4 June 2013 |website=Europa |publisher=European Union External Action Service}}</ref> On 19 October 2020, the European Union revealed new plans to create a legal structure to act against [[human rights violations]] worldwide. The new plan was expected to provide the European Union with greater flexibility to target and sanction those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe Unveils New Sanctions Plan for Human Rights Violations |url=https://news.bloombergtax.com/international-trade/europe-unveils-new-sanctions-plan-for-human-rights-violations |access-date=19 October 2020 |website=Bloomberg Tax}}</ref>

{{Gallery
| title = Examples of identity, travel and health documents used in the EU
| align = center
| File:Personalausweis Vorderseite (2024).png
 | [[European Union national identity cards|EU national identity card]]<br>{{Small|(German version pictured (2024))}}
| File:Schengen uniform visa format Germany 2018.png
 | [[Visa policy of the Schengen Area|Schengen visa]]<br>{{Small|(German version)}}
| File:Eirepas.JPG
 | A [[Passports of the European Union|passport]], displaying the name of the member state, the national [[coat of arms]] and the words "European Union" given in their official language(s)<br>{{Small|(Irish version pictured)}}
| File:EHIC Slovenia.jpg
 | [[European Health Insurance Card]]<br>{{Small|(Slovenian version pictured)}}
}}

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