Human Dignity in EU Law, By Marine Durand

Human dignity is a key element in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Yet, EU law has long failed to incorporate the concept of human dignity. Europeans founded the European Community to promote peace and social progress. The European Community focused on economic integration first as a mean to reach this goal, however. The Union’s judge and legislator later helped turn attention to human dignity: secondary legislation then primary law integrated the concept. We analyze how human dignity developed as a concept. We also analyze its integration into law. Doing so allows assessing carefully what role human dignity plays in the EU. Law is dynamic. EU institutions use the concept of human dignity to reach specific goals. Human dignity serves several functions. Like its sources, dignity plays a seminal role in Europe. Objectively, dignity is the basis of the European paradigm. Dignity defines the content and limits of the legal order. Subjectively, dignity protects human beings and their fundamental rights. Including human dignity into European treaties hopefully signals a humanistic shift in how Europe works.

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