Oldal 286 [286]
THE EXPLOITATION OF LABOUR
AND THE EUROPEAN VALUES
——o—
FERENC IRK!
ON THE VALUES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ENCODED
IN LEGAL NORMS
When looking for the values of the European Union encoded in legislation we
are confronted with the strange situation that they are phrased clearly and most
concisely in a piece of draft legislation available with the title “Treaty Establishing
a Constitution for Europe” (widely known as the draft European Constitution) ”,
which has never been approved.
Article 1-2 is entitled “The Union’s values”. It says that “The Union is founded
on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule
of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to
minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which
pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between
women and men prevail.”
Article I-3 is entitled “The Union’s objectives”. According to section 5 “In its
relations with the wider world, the Union shall uphold and promote its values
(emphasis mine — FI.) and interests. It shall contribute to peace, security, the
sustainable development of the Earth, solidarity and mutual respect among
peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human
rights, in particular the rights of the child, as well as to the strict observance and
the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the
United Nations Charter.”
Article I-19 is entitled “The Union’s institutions”. According to section 1, “The
Union shall have an institutional framework which shall aim to: promote its
values.”
The promotion of common values is emphasized in the document in several
other places as well. For example in section 5 of Article I-40 on the Specific
provisions relating to the common foreign and security policy; in section 1 of
Article I-57 on The Union and its neighbours; in section 1 and 2 of Article I-59
' Emeritus researcher, National Institute of Criminology, Budapest Hungary
? Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. https://europa.eu/european-union/sites/
europaeu/files/docs/body/treaty. establishing a constitution for europe en.pdf.
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