eu-charter

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Nothing in this Charter shall be interpreted as implying any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms recognised in this Charter or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for herein.

Explanations

  • Text:

    This Article corresponds to Article 17 of the ECHR:

    "Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention."

    Source:
    Official Journal of the European Union C 303/17 - 14.12.2007
    Preamble - Explanations relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights:
    These explanations were originally prepared under the authority of the Praesidium of the Convention which drafted the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Although they do not as such have the status of law, they are a valuable tool of interpretation intended to clarify the provisions of the Charter.

Case Law References

National Constitutional Law

16 results found

  • Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
    Country:
    Germany

    Article 18 Whoever abuses the freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of the press (paragraph (1) of Article 5), the freedom of teaching (paragraph (3) of Article 5), the freedom of assembly (Article 8), the freedom of association (Article 9), the privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications (Article 10), the rights of property (Article 14), or the right of asylum (Article 16a) in order to combat the free democratic basic order shall forfeit these basic rights. This forfeiture and its extent shall be declared by the Federal Constitutional Court.

  • Constitution of the Hellenic Republic
    URL:
    Country:
    Greece

    Article 25(...) Abuse of rights shall be prohibited. (...)

  • Constitution of the Hellenic Republic
    Country:
    Greece

    Article 25 (3) The abusive exercise of rights is not permitted […]

  • Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria
    Country:
    Bulgaria

    Art. 57. (2) Rights shall not be abused, nor shall they be exercised to the detriment of the rights or the legitimate interests of others.

  • Constitution of the Republic of Croatia
    Country:
    Croatia

     

     

     

  • Constitution of the Republic of Estonia
    Country:
    Estonia

    Article 10. The rights, freedoms and duties set out in this chapter do not preclude other rights, freedoms and duties which arise from the spirit of the Constitution or are in accordance therewith, and which are in conformity with the principles of human dignity, social justice and democratic government founded on the rule of law.

  • Czechia / Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
    Country:
    Czechia

    Article 4 (...) (4) When employing the provisions concerning limitations upon the fundamental rights and freedoms, the essence and significance of these rights and freedoms must be preserved. Such limitations shall not be misused for purposes other than those for which they were enacted.

  • European Convention on Human Rights - Article 17
    Country:
    Austria

    Article 17

    Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention.

  • Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
    Country:
    Germany

    Artikel 18 Wer die Freiheit der Meinungsäußerung, insbesondere die Pressefreiheit (Artikel 5 Abs. 1), die Lehrfreiheit (Artikel 5 Abs. 3), die Versammlungsfreiheit (Artikel 8), die Vereinigungsfreiheit (Artikel 9), das Brief-, Post- und Fernmeldegeheimnis (Artikel 10), das Eigentum (Artikel 14) oder das Asylrecht (Artikel 16a) zum Kampfe gegen die freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung mißbraucht, verwirkt diese Grundrechte. Die Verwirkung und ihr Ausmaß werden durch das Bundesverfassungsgericht ausgesprochen.

  • Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten
    Country:
    Austria

    Artikel 17 Keine Bestimmung dieser Konvention darf dahin ausgelegt werden, daß sie für einen Staat, eine Gruppe oder eine Person das Recht begründet, eine Tätigkeit auszuüben oder eine Handlung zu begehen, die auf die Abschaffung der in der vorliegenden Konvention festgelegten Rechte und Freiheiten oder auf weitergehende Beschränkungen dieser Rechte und Freiheiten, als in der Konvention vorgesehen, hinzielt.

  • Portugal / Constitution of the Portuguese Republic
    Country:
    Portugal

    Article 16 (Scope and interpretation of fundamental rights) (1) The fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution shall not exclude any other set out in applicable international laws and legal rules. (2) The constitutional precepts concerning fundamental rights must be interpreted and completed in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    ...
    Article 18 (Legal force) (1) The constitutional precepts with regard to rights, freedoms and guarantees are directly applicable and are binding on public and private entities. (2) The law may only restrict rights, freedoms and guarantees in cases expressly provided for in the Constitution, and such restrictions must be limited to those needed to safeguard other constitutionally protected rights and interests. (3). Laws that restrict rights, freedoms and guarantees must have a general and abstract nature and may not have a retroactive effect or reduce the extent or scope of the essential content of the constitutional precepts.

  • Slovakia / Constitution of the Slovak Republic
    Country:
    Slovakia

    Article 1 (1) The Slovak Republic is a sovereign, democratic state governed by the rule of law.(...)

  • The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
    Country:
    Cyprus

    Article 34
    Nothing in this Part may be interpreted as implying for any Community, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the undermining or destruction of the constitutional order established by this Constitution or at the destruction of any of the rights and liberties set forth in this Part or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for therein.

  • Tο Σύνταγμα της Κυπριακής Δημοκρατίας
    Country:
    Cyprus

    ΑΡΘΡΟΝ 34
    Ουδέν εκ των εν τω παρόντι, μέρει διαλαμβανομένων δύναται να ερμηνευθή ως παρέχον οιονδήποτε δικαίωμα εις οιονδήποτε κοινότητα, ομάδα ή άτομον να επιδοθή εις οιανδήποτε δράσιν ή εκτέλεσιν οιασδήποτε πράξεως σκοπούσης την υπονόμευσιν ή την κατάργησιν της υπό του Συντάγματος καθιδρυομένης συνταγματικής τάξεως ή την κατάργησιν οιουδήποτε εκ των εν τω παρόντι μέρει καθοριζομένων δικαιωμάτων ή ελευθεριών ή τον περιορισμόν αυτών εις μεγαλύτερον του οριζομένου εν τω παρόντι μέρει βαθμόν.

  • Το Σύνταγμα της Ελλάδας
    Country:
    Greece

    Άρθρο 25 (3) Η καταχρηστική άσκηση δικαιώματος δεν επιτρέπεται. [...]

  • КОНСТИТУЦИЯ на Република България
    Country:
    Bulgaria

    Чл. 57. (2) Не се допуска злоупотреба с права, както и тяхното упражняване, ако то накърнява права или законни интереси на други.

EU Law

0 results found

International Law

0 results found

Publications and data

  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    10
    October
    2025
    Labour inspectors are essential for enforcing workers’ rights and for detecting and addressing labour exploitation. Together, the European Labour Authority (ELA) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) have developed a guide for workplace inspectors on how to detect labour exploitation. This guide is a practical tool for labour inspectors. It focuses on non-national workers in the EU who work in a country other than their own. Such workers are particularly vulnerable to labour exploitation. The guide is also accompanied by a leaflet that summarises the detailed information provided in this guide.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    8
    October
    2025
    The Entry/Exit System (EES), launching in 2025, will register non-EU nationals crossing the EU’s external borders. This FRA guidance helps border guards apply the new rules in line with EU fundamental rights. It offers practical tips on informing people, collecting biometric data and supporting people with specific needs. Based on fieldwork at 10 border crossing points in 6 Member States, the guidance will ensure rights are respected under the new system. A separate guidance publication for managers accompanies this publication.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    8
    October
    2025
    The Entry/Exit System (EES), launching in 2025, will register non-EU nationals crossing the EU’s external borders. This FRA guidance supports managers overseeing the operation of the new system. It helps them to ensure compliance with EU fundamental rights. It outlines operational considerations: clear communication, dignified biometric data collection and data protection. It also addresses staff training needs. Based on fieldwork at 10 border crossing points in 6 Member States, the guidance will ensure rights are respected under the new system. A separate guidance publication for border guards accompanies this publication.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    2
    October
    2025
    This report examines the fundamental rights and living conditions of Roma and Travellers across 10 EU Member States and
    3 accession countries. The survey evaluates progress towards the EU Roma strategic framework’s 2030 objectives, covering areas such as discrimination, poverty, education, employment, health, and housing.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    17
    September
    2025
    This report highlights the discrimination, harassment, violence, and non-consensual medical interventions faced by intersex people across 30 European countries, based on responses from nearly 2,000 participants in FRA's 2023 EU LGBTIQ Survey III. It reveals that many intersex individuals also identify as trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and have varied sexual orientations, which further compounds their experiences of discrimination. The report aims to support the development of laws and policies that promote the inclusion and dignity of intersex people.
  • In brief / Factsheet
    1
    September
    2025
    This factsheet focuses on the European arrest warrant and EU Member States obligations to respect fundamental rights. EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights sometimes overlap. The publication clarifies where there are similar principles in different legislation and provides examples of case law. In collaboration, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the European Court of Human Rights produced this short publication. It is designed to aid lawyers and policymakers in understanding and applying the jurisprudence in this area. The August 2025 version now contains recent case-law developments.
  • Periodic updates / Series
    30
    July
    2025
    This publication looks at how EU countries investigate abuse and ill-treatment at their borders. While more incidents are now raised with judicial authorities, convictions remain rare. Covering incidents up to the end of 2024 - including serious cases and shipwrecks - it also highlights the role of Frontex and pending cases before the European Court of Human Rights. It builds on FRA’s 2024 Guidance on investigating alleged ill-treatment at borders which outlines ways to make investigations more effective.
  • Opinion / Position Paper
    23
    July
    2025
    This position paper examines how the EU can counter the instrumentalisation of migrants while also upholding fundamental rights. Instrumentalisation refers to countries outside the EU using migration to exert political pressure. This position paper defines the phenomenon, provides examples, and outlines legal obligations under EU law. It provides legal analysis and warns that some responses risk undermining fundamental rights at the EU’s external borders, including the right to asylum. To counter instrumentalisation and uphold fundamental rights, the position paper proposes practical measures for Member States to take, such as sanctions, border controls, and cooperation with private operators.
  • Periodic updates / Series
    20
    June
    2025
    The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights regularly collects data on the operations of NGO vessels involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean. This includes any legal proceedings against them, as well as any difficulties in disembarking migrants in safe ports. This paper provides an overview of criminal investigations and other legal proceedings initiated by European Union (EU) Member States against civil society organisations deploying search and rescue vessels and aircraft in the Mediterranean and/or against individual crew members. The latest update covers the period from 2018 up until 1 June 2025.
  • Fundamental Rights Report
    10
    June
    2025
    This publication is an excerpt from the Fundamental Rights Report 2025, the annual report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). It presents selected critical developments in fundamental rights in 2024, as well as the key findings and FRA opinions from the report’s chapters.