§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will in future offer a preliminary view to Parliament on the compatibility of proposed European legislation not only with the European Convention on Human Rights but also with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights. [HL2815]
§ The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean):Article 6(2) of the Treaty on European Union requires the Union to respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and as they result from the constitutional traditions common to the member states, as general principles of Community law. A very similar provision is maintained in the draft EU constitutional treaty being discussed by the Convention on the Future of Europe. The convention is still considering the future status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.