Empowering Citizens, Enhancing Rights

Building Capacity on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Empowering Citizens, Enhancing Rights

Building Capacity on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

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About The Project

Our project is dedicated to increasing awareness of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and strengthening its application at all levels. Through a diverse set of activities ranging from media training and expert debates to local authorities support and youth empowerment, we aim to make the Charter a living instrument in daily life.

This project is running for 2 years from 2024-2026, with generous support of EU CERV programme. Powered by a group of 5 organisations and coordinated by Democracy Reporting International.

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MEDIA

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EXPERTS

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LOCAL AUTHORITIES

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YOUTH

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capacity building events, with 1800 participants from at least 22 EU members

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publications with a total reach
of over 120,000

ABOUT THE CHARTER

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (CFREU) symbol/icon

The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights brings together the personal, civic, political, economic, and social rights protected across the European Union. In effect since 2009, it ensures that people enjoy a high level of rights protection when dealing with EU institutions or where member states apply EU law.

The Charter safeguards the key principles of dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizens' rights, and justice. It is also notable for including a strong focus on social and economic freedoms, recognising modern challenges such as digital rights and environmental protection, and guaranteeing fair and effective public administration.

However, despite its importance, the awareness and use of the Charter remains low. Many citizens, public officials, and even legal professionals are unfamiliar with it, limiting its practical application and preventing it from reaching its full potential to protect citizens' rights.
View EU Charter

KEY LINKS FOR MORE INFO

PARTNERS

We are proud to collaborate with a dynamic consortium of five organizations united in advancing rights and democracy. Each partner brings a distinct focus and expertise: Are We Europe champions the critical role of media, EYP empowers youth engagement, ALDA fosters innovation in local governance, and Verfassungsblog delves into constitutionalism. Together, we leverage these strengths led by Democracy Reporting International with coordination and content support.
Logo of ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy
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ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy, is an association dedicated to the promotion of good governance and citizen participation at the local level in the European Union, its Neighbourhood and beyond.

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Are We Europe is a non-profit media collective dedicated to innovating and diversifying the European media landscape. It supports emerging creative talent in Europe and promotes the creation of inclusive pan-European media initiatives.

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DRI - Democracy Reporting International is committed to defending and improving democracy worldwide. It analyses threats to democracy; advocates for solutions during key legislative and political processes by bringing impartial analysis and policy recommendations to policymakers.

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EYP - The European Youth Parliament is one of Europe’s largest youth platforms for civic education, intercultural encounters, and the exchange of ideas – run by young people, for young people.

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Verfassungsblog is a global forum of scholarly debate at the interface of academy and society. It opens up debates in public law – internationally, interdisciplinary and open access. It is independent and community-led.

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EU citizens are protected in their rights by the EU Charter. However, they don’t always know the full extent of these rights, or when and how to assert them with authorities. The media can contribute to informing citizens about their rights protection. And this is where we come in; we build the capacity of journalists through media fellowships and cross-border newsrooms to share human-centered stories that highlight the meaning of the Charter for everyday lives. And throughout, we empower journalists to amplify voices often underrepresented in European media.

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The EU Charter is a powerful legal tool, but its scope, impact and relevance for protecting people’s rights is underexplored. To build deeper understanding, we foster expert discussions on key challenges and opportunities surrounding the Charter. Our online symposia and rapid-response commentaries connect scholars and practitioners to create a robust debate on fundamental rights.

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Cities and regions are closest to people’s everyday lives, but many local authorities are unaware of the EU Charter or their responsibilities under it. Public officials need support to better understand how to protect people’s rights while providing services in their communities. Through training associations of municipalities, we enable local governments to integrate the Charter into their daily work. These associations then share their knowledge with local authorities , improving local governance and ensuring EU rights are upheld where it matters most.

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Young people are the advocates for a better future for us all. To be an active citizen means to be knowledgeable about your own and others’ rights and how to defend them against persecution. Our cross-border youth labs and outreach activities empower young people to engage with and fight for Charter rights. This is about building the next generation of rights advocates and ensuring youth perspectives shape Europe’s future.

Miroslawa van der Boom

Mirosława van der Boom is a journalist and military historian. She writes about conflicts, environmental issues, and their intersection. With an academic background in history, she is particularly interested in borderlands during war and the tension between national and local belonging.

Hazar Deniz Eker

Hazar Deniz is a Brussels-based freelance journalist and editor for the European Correspondent’s Democracy and Human Rights Desk. He has written and researched extensively on EU-Türkiye relations. He also works on investigative projects.

Julianna Vas

Julianna is a Hungarian journalist. Growing up in an increasingly authoritarian system, and having witnessed the crackdown on the independent press, she decided to challenge repression in the form of a paper and a pen. Her main interests are marginalised communities, the shift to the far-right in mainstream politics, and international relations.

Malene Nørby-Pedersen

Malene Nørby is a journalist collaborating with several Danish media outlets. With a background in investigative journalism and the Social Sciences, she is deeply engaged in social issues and European affairs. In her work, she seeks to uncover problems, highlight constructive solutions, and offer pathways forward.

Saara-Maria Salonen

Saara-Maria Salonen is a Finnish and Inari Sámi journalist living between the United Kingdom (UK) and Finland. She has a master's degree in Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Sussex. Saara-Maria writes about Arctic and Indigenous issues, sustainable energies and climate change. She has a strong interest in Indigenous music, and has worked as a producer in Sámi film productions.

Zuza Nazaruk

Zuza Nazaruk is an independent investigative journalist. She has reported on topics such as climate and the environment, defence, migration, and tax avoidance. Her story on the environmental impact of militarising the Polish-Belarussian border won the Best Story award at the Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence in 2025. Her work has appeared in Follow the Money, New Lines Magazine, Balkan Insight, and others.

Michaela Nagyidaiová

Michaela Nagyidaiová is a Slovak visual artist living and working between Vienna, Austria, and Bratislava, Slovakia. Her work explores the relationship between landscape and memory, the transformation of the central and eastern European environment, migration, and questions of belonging. She holds a master’s in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography from the London College of Communication (2019).

Belle de Jong

Belle de Jong is a journalist and editor based in Malta, focusing on social justice, climate, and human rights. Her work has a strong focus on connecting local realities to broader European issues. Previously, she worked in environmental and social policy at the European Parliament and led digital communications for the European elections in Malta. She is now an editor at The European Correspondent.