The Draft Constitution and Human Rights Protection in European Union

周大勇 (Zhou,Dayong)

1 the general introduction of the draft constitution in aspect of the human rights
2 short review of the human rights protection in European Union
3 the new points in aspect of human rights in the draft constitution
3.1 common values
3.2 incorporation of the Charter of fundamental rights
3.3 other changes could affect the human rights
4 arisen questions
4.1 the protection different from under the Convention
4.2 the two courts system and its application
5 conclusions in a historical view




1 general introduction of the draft constitution in aspect of the human rights

“Conscious that Europe is a continent that has brought forth civilization; That its inhabitants, arriving in successive waves from earliest times, have gradually developed the values underlying humanism: equality of persons, freedom, respect for reason” Extract from the preamble to the draft Constitution

In past 16 years, the European Union (EU hereafter) has marked itself through a series of changes. From The Single European Act, in which the Union committed itself to create a single market and at the same time establish on its territory the freedom of movement of people, goods, services as well as capital, to Maastricht Treaty, which brought the Union into reality and led to common foreign policy and cooperation in the area of justice and internal affairs as a higher level cooperation among Member States. Then the following Amsterdam (1997) and Nice (2001) Treaties, strengthened cooperation in foreign and security policy and placed Justice and Home Affairs matters and established the frame for the Union as a legitimate institution, in which people from different nations integrated in a large region would have common historical direction and splendid future before them. Just before the door of enlargement of the Union, it was argued that the Union has to improve democracy and transparency as well as efficiency, in order to outlines the EU’s purpose and competence clearly and streamline structures so as to prevent paralysis, therefore a new constitution for the Union is determined to replace the EU's series of key treaties in passed over the last 50 years as a single document .

Under leading of former French President and master draftsman Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the European Convention set about its work of drafting the European Union's first ever full-fledged constitution. With the convention's work completed, the draft must now be finalized by an Intergovernmental Conference of European leaders that is expected to complete deliberations by the end of the 2003. As far as our topic is concerned, noticeably modifications come out in the constitution contract, first of all, the incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which we will discuss later. In the beginning it is meaningful to consider the statues of the draft constitution in the progress course of the Union. The Union desires to bring peace and prosperity, to promote economic and social progress through continuously integrating market and expanding freedom under light of united institution and social systems . These goals, however, are the foundation of development and protection of human rights . That means, if we regard human rights as a series right which realized at first in peaceful and law-ruling society, then the Union has already kept on entrenching to appreciate these goal from beginning on, and now by means of perusing such goal in a larger region through enlargement, the EU’s influence extent to broader area and more people.

The draft constitution then in such context should be viewed as another historical phase in the process. Because the promoting of well-being and fortune of people depend not only on the development of economic situation and adding some single freedom clauses into the governmental documents, but also upon the entire politic system and background in which we live. Without governing based on democratic and effective institutional structure, and especially a ripe legislation and judiciary mechanism, the realization and protection of human rights could only be on the paper. This is also one of the motive caused the Declaration on the future of the European Union which committed the Union to becoming more democratic, more transparent and effective, in order to pave the way for a Constitution in response to the expectations of the people of Europe . In this perspective, one shall recognize the Constitution as a moving forward step of the whole EU institutionalization targeting its goal, so that to discuss the Constitution in connection with the human right protection, it is helpful to review the human rights protection in Europe and, especially in EU.

2 short review of the human rights protection in European Union

The protection of human rights has been internationally come to life in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 (UDHR) with reorganization of disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind and respect for inherent dignity as well as the equal rights of all members of the human. This declaration states explicitly that the rights and freedoms of humans have to be guaranteed without distinction and destruction by any group, state or person. These principles were broadly accepted by European countries, considering the origin of the EU (EC) and the historical separation in Europe after WWII, we denote only the contracting countries of European Community.

For the Member States of EC, the Council of Europe has been up to now the most important instrument, which established in 1949 as a result of the Congress of Europe in The Hague , and took for the basic of the human rights protection. The Council accepted the principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and integrated it into The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights (the Convention hereafter), which and its 12 Protocols turned out to be the significant resource for Human Rights protection in Europe. Because of the existence of the Convention, the other two organizations established in the same age aftermath of the Second World War, i.e. OEEC and the European Communities didn’t include relevant clauses for Human Rights protection into their founding treaties. Since it was agreed at that time, the Council of Europe would focus on the protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democratic values, whereas the OECD and the European Communities were to be concerned with the economic restoration of Europe. The reason of separate organizations was based on a view to avoiding economic excuses for future inhumanity. Another reason came from the thought, which believed that the process of economic integration set forth in the Community Treaties could not lead to a violation of human rights. Furthermore, the original Member States in the Treaty of Rome feared, that the inclusion of a "bill of rights" in the Treaty might have brought about an undesirable expansion of Community powers, since it could lead Community institutions to interpret their powers as extending to anything not explicitly prohibited by the enumerated guarantees.

Under the regime of Council of Europe, a lots of achievement of human rights improvement has been reached , yet along with the development and expansion of EU, another mechanism on protection of human rights which does not totally rely on the Council of Europe has derived out on one hand, on the other hand being lack of provisions ruling human rights protection in the Treaty establishing EC did not prevent the EC and the later European Union from providing care for the protection against the violations on human rights. Naturally, how could a swelling supranational organization as EC, which has been continually strengthening its power in all social aspects, does not involve in human rights issues especially when the consciousness of human rights nowadays become more significant both in international and national stages? Regarding to EU, The protection system has been formed in three aspects.

First of all, the legislation in the Member States of EU. Since there were no Member States of EU (EC) which accedes to the Community without being a member of the Council of Europe, and according to the Convention, it impose obligations on the Member States that they should ensure that the internal laws and practices comply with the human rights standards set out in the instruments. Very member states in EU have recognize the principles derived from the Convention and incorporated them somehow into national laws, most importantly, provided constitutive protection as the basic legal resource for human rights protection. For example in Germany, Basic Law (Grundgesetz) Art 1 to 19 deliver explicit provisions even beyond the Convention; the same case as Part VIII (§71-85) in Constitution of Denmark ; in Britain the Act of Human Rights came into force on 2 October 2000 steers extending a ways, in which the Convention can be used before domestic courts. Certainly, according to the classic human rights lessons, the basic protection of human rights could only be afforded at the national level through national legislation and excise of authoritative power.

Secondly, the institutions and legislation at the EU level acts also with high respect to the human rights protection. The EU has showed its commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms and has explicitly confirmed the EU's attachment to fundamental social rights ever since its establishment.

The Amsterdam Treaty established procedures intended to secure their protection. It was ascertained, as a general principle, that the European Union should respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, upon which the Union is founded. For the first time a procedure is introduced, according to which severe and continuing violations of Fundamental Rights can lead to suspension of voting and other rights of a member state, if the Union determined the existence of a serious and persistent breach of these principles by that Member State. As to the Candidate countries, they should also respect these principles to join the Union. Furthermore, It has also given the European Court of Justice the power to ensure respect of fundamental rights and freedoms by the European institutions. In accordance with the inner requirement for the implementation of development cooperation operations, in order to reach objective of developing and consolidating democracy, EU also need its rule respecting for human rights. Such cases we have are for instance the EU Council’s regulation on human rights, Council Regulation (EC) No 975/199 and Council Regulation (EC) No 976/1999 for example, are aimed at providing technical and financial aid for operations to promote and protect of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights etc.

Likewise, at their meeting in Cologne in June 1999, EU leaders declared that in respect to the current stage of progress of the European Union, the fundamental rights applicable at Union level should be pushed forward, namely be consolidated in a Charter and thereby made more evident. They argued, that the legal resources of human rights protection come from not only the European Convention of Human Right, but also from various international conventions drawn up by the Council of Europe as well as the United Nations and the International Labor Organization, they also include EU treaties themselves and from the case law of the European Court of Justice. As a result, a Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter hereinafter) was sketch out, which highlighted the EU’s respect for human rights, for fundamental freedoms and for the principle of democracy through listing more rights a more precise definition of the common values comparing the early documents including the Convention. We will continue to concentrate on the Charter in point 3 since it has been integrated in the draft Constitution as an outstanding achievement.

Finally, the opinion and case-law of European Court of Justice (ECJ hereafter) also have immense impact on the establishment of the instrument of human rights protection within EU.

Although the jurisprudence developed by the ECJ recognizes the Convention as the standard-setter in cases in which the Court has to consider and decide a human rights issue, since there were no relevant legislation existed in the frame of the Community, the ECJ furnish itself power in this aspect by means of case-law. Earlier in 1974, the ECJ first made reference to the ECHR in the Nold judgment, in which the ECJ emphasized its commitment to fundamental human rights based on the constitutional traditions of the Member States’ fundamental rights form an integral part of the general principles of law which the Court enforces. In assuring the protection of such rights, the Court is required to base itself on the constitutional traditions common to the Member States and therefore could not allow measures, which are incompatible with the fundamental rights recognized and guaranteed by the constitutions of such States. The ECJ declared, that the international treaties on the protection of human rights in which the Member States have cooperated or to which they have adhered could also supply indications which may be taken into account within the framework of Community law.

That implied, even without clear regulations in the treaties, the remedy against violation on human rights could also be provided within the framework of the Community in respect for the common traditions applied to the Member States, and in connection with we have mentioned about the Member States’ above, the principles and resource applied to the Member States derived from the Council of Europe. Thus a EU standard could be established by transform a rating comparison of the members’ legal systems to the case-law in ECJ in respect for human rights.
国土资源部


关于建立建设用地信息发布制度的通知

1998年12月7日，国土资源部


各省、自治区、直辖市土地（国土）管理局（厅）：
为培育和规范建设用地市场，在国家宏观调控下，充分发挥市场机制配置土地资源的基础作用，加强建设用地信息服务，增加土地使用权交易透明度，促进土地管理部门廉政建设，国土资源部决定从1999年起，建立建设用地信息发布制度。现将有关问题通知如下：
一、建立建设用地信息发布制度的重要性
建立建设用地信息发布制度，是培育规范土地市场的重大举措，是土地市场成熟与否的重要标志，也是政府管理土地市场的重要手段，对于引导市场投资方向，促进土地资源、资产的合理利用有重大意义。这一制度的建立有助于政府宏观调控土地市场，合理制订土地供给和收购政策，正确引导土地需求；也有助于解决现行建设用地供应和使用权交易中存在的情况不明、交易不公的问题，促进政务公开化和土地管理部门廉政建设。各级土地管理部门一定要充分认识建立建设用地信息发布制度的重要意义，把建立建设用地信息发布制度作为深化土地使用制度改革，培育土地市场的基础性工作来抓，并争取在近期抓出成效。
二、建设用地信息发布的内容
目前发布的信息主要是土地供给总量信息、已供给土地宗地信息、已供给土地综合信息、土地使用权市场交易信息、市场预测信息和政府供地限制目录等。
（一）土地供给总量信息：包括拟供给的新增和现有建设用地方案、农用地转用安排以及有关土地的规划用途和用地条件。
（二）已供给土地宗地信息：包括政府出让、出租、划拨的宗地面积、使用人情况、出让金、租金或征地补偿费、位置等内容。
（三）已供给土地综合信息：包括土地供给总面积、供给形式分类情况、用地类型、土地使用者类型、用地涉及的投资额等，不同地区的土地供给总量、各宗地概况、类别对比、用地涉及的投资额等内容。
（四）土地使用权市场交易信息：包括出让及划拨土地使用权转让、出租、抵押的宗地信息和综合信息。土地使用权市场交易宗地信息包括交易面积、交易金额、交易人的有关情况。土地使用权市场交易综合信息包括交易总面积、交易总金额、交易土地分类等内容。
（五）市场预测信息：包括对土地市场供给和需求作出的具体分析和预测，对未来土地市场价格、供给、优先方向等状况的数据指标以及有关分析、预测图表。
（六）政府供地限制目录：包括依据政府产业政策制定的划拨供地目录、限制供地目录、禁止供地目录等。
三、建设用地信息发布的要求
建设用地信息发布是土地市场管理的新工作，各地要根据具体情况，创造性地开展工作，大胆探索。目前，信息发布暂按以下要求进行：
（一）发布格式。建设用地信息发布必须采用规范的书面印刷格式，也可同时采取新闻发布和上网的形式。发布内容要以文字、表格和图形的方式表达。
（二）发布时间。省级土地管理部门每季度发布一次，市、县土地管理部门根据当地实际情况确定发布时间。市场预测信息和政府供地限制目录的发布可定期，也可不定期，但每年至少要发布一次。
（三）发布程序。土地市场管理部门按要求收集各类信息，进行整理分类，做好发布前的审核，经有关领导审查批准后，向社会公布。
（四）信息上报。建设用地信息采取逐级备案的形式上报。地方土地管理部门在土地市场信息发布之日起15日内，报上一级土地管理部门备案，省级土地管理部门将本辖区发布信息汇总后报国土资源部备案。
四、建设用地信息发布制度的实施
今年年底，各地要切实开展创建工作，力争发布今年第四季度或全年的已供给土地宗地信息和综合信息。从明年起，分两个阶段实施：
2000年之前，市、县土地管理部门要按规定格式向社会发布土地供给总量信息、已供给土地宗地信息（详见附件一）和已供给土地综合信息（详见附件二）。省级土地管理部门要按规定格式向社会发布已供给土地综合信息，并上报备案（详见附件三）。
2000年之后，各级土地管理部门要将土地供给总量信息、已供给土地宗地信息、已供给土地综合信息、土地使用权市场交易信息、市场预测信息和政府供地限制目录等信息全部向社会公布。
各省（区、市）土地管理部门要高度重视建设用地信息发布工作，并在人员、资金和设备方面给予保证，现有的点对点传输系统要优先安排建设用地信息的传输使用。各级土地管理部门必须如实发布和上报建设用地信息，不得弄虚作假和瞒报，切实做到信息发布真实、及时，逐步实现土地信息社会共享。
附件：一、土地宗地信息
二、土地综合信息
三、省级土地管理部门上报备案分区宗地信息

附件一：土地宗地信息（将已供地块列入以下类别公布）
一、国有土地使用权出让宗地信息
1、居住用地：地块编号、项目名称、出让方、受让方、座落、出让面积、征用耕地面积、出让金、容积率、投资额、可建面积、土地等级、基准地价、批准机关、批准文号；
2、工业用地：内容同上；
3、教育、科技、文化、卫生、体育用地：内容同上；
4、商业、旅游、娱乐用地：内容同上；
5、其他用地：内容同上。
二、国有土地使用权划拨宗地信息
1、城市基础设施用地：地块编号、项目名称、用地单位、用地面积、征用耕地面积、征地费用、投资额、批准机关、批准文号；
2、公益事业用地：内容同上；
3、能源用地：内容同上；
4、交通用地：内容同上；
5、水利用地：内容同上；
6、其他用地：内容同上。
三、使用农村集体土地宗地信息
1、乡镇企业用地：项目名称、用地单位、座落、用地面积、耕地转用面积、批准机关、批准文号；
2、公共设施用地：内容同上；
3、公益事业用地：内容同上；
4、村民住宅用地：用地单位改为用地人，其余内容同上；
5、其他用地：内容同乡镇企业用地。

附件二：土地综合信息
一、土地供给总量：
出让国有土地使用权：宗数、面积、出让金总额
划拨国有土地使用权：宗数、面积
使用农村集体土地：宗数、面积
二、新增建设用地：
其中：耕地面积
非耕地面积
三、使用现有建设用地：面积
四、出让国有土地使用权地域和分类信息
1、居住用地：
其中：市（地区）：宗数、面积、出让金总额
市（地区）：宗数、面积、出让金总额
市（地区）：宗数、面积、出让金总额
……
2、工业用地：内容同上；
3、教育、科技、文化、卫生、体育用地：内容同上；
4、商业、旅游、娱乐用地：内容同上；
5、其他用地：内容同上。
五、划拨国有土地使用权地域和分类信息
1、城市基础设施用地：
其中：——市（地区）：宗数、面积（使用耕地、非耕地、现有建设用地）；
——市（地区）：宗数、面积（使用耕地、非耕地、现有建设用地）；
……
2、公益事业用地：内容同上；
3、能源用地：内容同上；
4、交通用地：内容同上；
5、水利用地：内容同上；
6、其他用地：内容同上。
六、农村集体非农业建设用地地域和分类信息
1、乡镇企业用地：
其中：——市（地区）：宗数、面积（使用耕地、非耕地、现有建设用地）；
——市（地区）：宗数、面积（使用耕地、非耕地、现有建设用地）；
……
2、村民住宅用地：内容同上；
3、公共设施用地：内容同上；
4、其他用地：内容同上。

附件三：省级土地管理部门上报备案分区宗地信息
一、出让国有土地使用权宗地信息
1、居住用地：项目名称、出让方、受让方、出让面积、出让金、可建面积
其中：——市（地区）：项目1
项目2
——市（地区）：同上
……
2、工业用地：内容同上；
3、教育、科技、文化、卫生、体育用地：内容同上；
4、商业、旅游、娱乐用地：内容同上；
5、其他用地：内容同上。
二、划拨国有土地使用权宗地信息
1、城市基础设施用地：项目名称、批准机关、使用单位、划拨面积
其中：——市（地区）：项目1
项目2
——市（地区）：同上
……
2、公益事业用地：内容同上；
3、能源用地：内容同上；
4、交通用地：内容同上；
5、水利用地：内容同上；
6、其他用地：内容同上。
三、农村集体非农业建设用地信息（使用农村集体土地）
1、乡镇企业用地：项目名称、批准机关、批准面积、使用单位、用地所在村镇
其中：——市（地区）：项目1
项目2
——市（地区）：同上
……
2、公共设施：内容同上；
3、公益事业：内容同上；
4、村民住宅：建房户主名、批准机关、批准面积、用地所在村镇
其中：内容同上；
5、其他：内容同乡镇企业用地。