Regulation 2013/1381 - Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme for the period 2014 to 2020 - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 354/62

The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Those 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. Persons are entitled to enjoy in the Union the rights conferred on them by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Furthermore, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the "Charter"), which with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon became legally binding across the Union, reflects the fundamental rights and freedoms to which persons are entitled in the Union. Those rights should be promoted and respected. The full enjoyment of those rights, as well as of the rights deriving from international conventions to which the Union has acceded, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, should be guaranteed and any obstacles should be dismantled. Furthermore, the enjoyment of those rights entails responsibilities and duties with regard to other persons, to the human community and to future generations.

In the Stockholm Programme (4) the European Council reaffirmed the priority of developing an area of freedom, security and justice and specified as a political priority the achievement of a Europe of rights. Financing was identified as one of the important tools for the successful implementation of the Stockholm Programme's political priorities. The ambitious goals set by the Treaties and by the Stockholm Programme should be attained inter alia by establishing, for the period 2014 to 2020, a flexible and effective Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (the "Programme") which should facilitate planning and implementation. The general and specific objectives of the Programme should be interpreted in line with the relevant strategic guidelines defined by the European Council.

The Commission Communication of 3 March 2010 on the Europe 2020 Strategy sets out a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Supporting and promoting the rights of persons within the Union, tackling discrimination and inequalities and promoting Union citizenship contribute to the promotion of the specific objectives and flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of the Union. Article 19 TFEU provides for action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Non-discrimination is also enshrined in Article 21 of the Charter, which should be applied within the limits of, and in accordance with, Article 51 of the Charter. The specific features of the diverse forms of discrimination should be accommodated and appropriate action should be developed in parallel to prevent and combat discrimination...