A vast gap exists between the rights guaranteed by the EU in the key EU treaties and the exercise of these rights. Unclear laws, disempowerment or fear of reprisal can prevent people from knowing and enjoying their rights. The EU’s main response to ensure that these values are upheld are through Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and its mechanisms to encourage citizen participation in its policy development processes, and Article 7 TEU, allowing the Union to react to systematic threats to fundamental values by Member States. In the new Citizen Rights toolkit, European Civic Forum and European Alternatives assess active citizenship and propose a radical overhaul of the way European institutions include citizens in EU level decision making and protection of human rights. The report is available for download here.
Source: European Civic Forum
