Introduction

Fundamental rights are crucial to the functioning of the EU, and especially of the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. In particular, understanding the EU’s fundamental rights environment is essential for making use of mutual recognition instruments in the field of cross-border judicial cooperation within the EU. This course has been specifically designed to equip you with the basic concepts of fundamental rights protection. The course provides you with an overview of the evolution of fundamental rights within the EU legal order, from their integration into EC law through General Principles to their consecration as written primary law in the form of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. We will also go through the contents of this Charter, including the provisions that guide its interpretation and application.