Amnesty International UK Communications Mark Lattimer said:

'As the competencies of the EU continue to expand, it is important that there exists a fundamental check on its power, protecting the rights of individuals in EU member states.

'Unlike the UK and other European states, the EU institutions are not subject to the European Convention on Human Rights or other key international standards.'

Though a step forward, Amnesty International thinks that the European Charter is still imperfect and hopes that the European Union will continue its efforts towards the establishment of a proper human rights protection system.

Amnesty International has called for a legally-binding Charter provided that certain basic conditions are met. These conditions are that the Charter should:

guarantee the fundamental rights of all individuals without discrimination; strengthen rather than weaken the current level of human rights protection in the EU; serve to include fundamental rights that have not necessarily been included in other international instruments; be fully justiciable by the European Court of Justice and by national courts when applying EC/EU Law.