On 27 April 1999, at a congress in Cologne, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, German Minister for Justice, outlines the importance of establishing a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 3 and 4 June 1999, the Cologne European Council emphasises the need to draw up a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and proposes that, once solemnly proclaimed, it could then be incorporated into the Treaties.

On 16 September 1999, the European Parliament adopts a resolution in which it welcomes the decision taken at the Cologne European Council to proceed with drawing up a draft European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 15 and 16 October 1999, the Tampere European Council, following up the Cologne conclusions, clarifies the composition, working method and the practical arrangements for the body to draw up a draft EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 13 September 2000, the European Commission outlines the implications of the drafting and adoption of the future European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Table listing the members of the Convention responsible for drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, chaired by Roman Herzog, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 17 December 1999, Roman Herzog of Germany, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), is elected Chairman of the Convention entrusted with the task of drawing up the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 17 December 1999, António Vitorino, Representative of Romano Prodi, President of the Commission, at the Convention responsible for drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, delivers an address at the opening session of the Convention in Brussels.

On 1 February 2000, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung comments on the debate on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

On 12 February 2000, the German daily newspaper Die Welt publishes an interview with Roman Herzog, former President of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and President of the Convention responsible for drafting the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 16 March 2000, the European Parliament adopts a resolution in which it reaffirms its full support for the drafting of a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 20 June 2000, Robert Badinter, member of the French Socialist Party in the Convention and former Justice Minister, analyses the implications of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 17 August 2000, Silvio Marcus Helmons, Professor at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), where he directs the Centre of Human Rights, considers the implications of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 28 September 2000, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit outlines the shortcomings of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 2 October 2000, at the formal session of the Convention responsible for drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, António Vitorino, Representative of the European Commission at the Convention, emphasises the Commission’s full support for the draft Charter.

On 9 October 2000, Jean-François Caré, International Director, Metalworkers’ Section, in the French General Confederation of Labour (CGT), Pierre Pranchère, former Communist MEP, Pierre Lévy, journalist for the Communist daily newspaper L’Humanité, and Georges Sarre, Deputy Leader of the Mouvement des Citoyens (Citizens’ Movement) political party, publish a joint article in the French daily newspaper Le Monde in which they deplore the weaknesses and dangers of the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 11 October 2000, the Praesidium of the Convention responsible for drafting the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights publishes a note aimed at explaining certain provisions of the Charter.

On 16 October 2000, in the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Guy Braibant, Hubert Haenel and François Loncle, French MPs and members of the Convention, publish an article in which they emphasise the importance of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 30 November 2000, the daily newspaper El País reports on the fate of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Continued disagreement between the EU Member States in the run-up to the Nice European Summit prevents this Charter from being incorporated into the Treaty, with opposition coming from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. The Charter is proclaimed in Nice, but it does not become legally binding. The decision-making system also gives rise to discussion and disagreement. Decisions therefore continue to be adopted unanimously, rather than by a qualified majority. The veto is maintained for issues relating to tax, social policy, cohesion, immigration and commercial policy, which could lead to situations of stalemate for the European Union in the event of future enlargements.

On 6 December 2000, on the margins of the Nice European Council, held on 7, 8 and 9 December, the European Movement organises a forum for the pro-European civil society as part of the ‘Dialogue on Europe’. Backed by José Maria Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado, former President of the European Parliament, by Giamperi Alhadef, President of the Platform of European Social Non-Governmental Organisations, and by Per Virgilio Dastoli, spokesman for the Permanent Forum of Civil Society, young activists discuss the progress achieved by and the shortcomings of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

On 7 December 2000, prior to the official opening of the Nice European Council, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission solemnly proclaim the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 7 December 2000, on the margins of the opening of the Nice European Council, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen sign the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. From left to right: Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament, Hubert Védrine, French Foreign Minister, and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission.

On 7 December 2000, on the fringes of the formal opening of the Nice European Council, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen sign the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. From left to right: Nicole Fontaine, President of the European Parliament; Hubert Védrine, French Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union; and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission.

On 8 December 2000, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the implications of the Nice European Council and welcomes the official proclamation of a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

On 9 December 2000, the Austrian daily newspaper Die Presse expresses its disappointment at the scope and the substance of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, officially proclaimed by the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen and the European Parliament and the Commission before the formal opening of the Nice European Council of 7–9 December 2000.

On 1 May 2001, Catherine Lalumière, substitute member of the European Parliament Delegation to the Convention responsible for drawing up the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, explains why she believes that the Charter should not remain a declaration of political intent but, on the contrary, should be integrated into the Community treaties, thereby securing legal credibility for it.

Dans cet article, Jean Baechler, professeur de sociologie historique à l'Université de Paris IV Sorbonne, publie dans la revue française Commentaire un article dans lequel il critique les méthodes d'élaboration et les dispositions de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne.

In this interview, Catherine Lalumière, former Member of the European Parliament and former alternate member of the Convention on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, outlines the working methods used in 1999 and 2000 by the members of the Convention and expresses her satisfaction with the final outcome.