Fundamental Rights in Europe

Fundamental rights in the EU are under serious threat. The Hague Programme establishing an area of Justice, Freedom and Security in the EU has become deeply unbalanced, promoting aggressive law enforcement measures in the absence of necessary counterbalancing safeguards, leaving individuals increasingly vulnerable.

It is time that debate about the best ways to protect fundamental rights in criminal proceedings is put at the top of the EU’s agenda.  

These rights include:

• proper data protection measures
• rights of access to legal and translation assistance
• the right to be informed of charges
• the right to communicate with consular officials and family members
• the right to freedom of movement within defined pre-trial and post-trial supervision frameworks

Influencing the development of European criminal justice policy and practice which better protects fundamental rights and promotes access to justice requires more than lobbying in Brussels. Getting rights firmly on the agenda requires a targeted and localised campaign in every member state of the EU.

EU fundamental rights network

We are increasing campaigning capacity in each of the 27 EU Member States by building a network of NGOs and defence practitioners across the EU.  We will provide network members with the tools they need to effectively lobby their own governments on specific legislation under the Hague Programme.  Our campaign network will:

• pressure national governments and MEPs to ensure that existing fundamental rights are not eroded
• oppose security measure which threaten those rights
• lobby national governments and MEPs to ensure any new law enforcement measure are accompanied by appropriate protections

Click here for an application form to join the network.

For more information contact