The charter of fundamental rights as a new element of European identity and beyond

Abstract

The effective implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights (CFR) of the European Union (EU) is contributing to furthering European integration and identity. The binding scope of the CFR is limited to the EU’s areas of power, but in practice it is being applied beyond the literal terms of its provisions. Fundamental rights have become an inescapable horizontal reference for any new legislation in all EU policies. Substantive legal acts are being adopted to implement the CFR, and the interaction between national courts and the EU Court of Justice is paving the way toward an EU judicial system of fundamental rights protection. Citizens are becoming increasingly aware of these developments. This process contributes to reinforcing a sense of identity, while strengthening the EU’s political legitimacy.