The EU and its Member States took a variety of important steps in 2013 to protect and promote fundamental rights by assuming new international commitments, revamping legislation and pursuing innovative policies on the ground. 2013 was also characterised by an intense debate on how best to protect and promote the rule of law within the European Union (EU).
This Focus looks at how to improve the protection of fundamental rights within EU Member States and the Union they are collectively building. It examines how the EU and its Member States, as part of their efforts to assume a pole position in the international human rights apparatus, could embed fundamental rights considerations more firmly in their policy making processes. By way of illustration, the Focus outlines for consideration 20 tools that could form part of a future EU strategic framework on fundamental rights.
