European Civil Code

Civil-law Rights

Human dignity

Human dignity is inviolable. It must be respected and protected.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 1)

Right to life

1. Everyone has the right to life.

2. No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 2)

Right to the integrity of the person

1. Everyone has the right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity.

2. In the fields of medicine and biology, the following must be respected in particular:

- the free and informed consent of the person concerned, according to the procedures laid down by law,

- the prohibition of eugenic practices, in particular those aiming at the selection of persons,

- the prohibition on making the human body and its parts as such a source of financial gain,

- the prohibition of the reproductive cloning of human beings.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 3)

Right to liberty and security

Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 6)

Respect for private and family life

Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and communications.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 7)

Protection of personal data

1. Everyone has the right to the protection of personal data concerning him or her.

2. Such data must be processed fairly for specified purposes and on the basis of the consent of the person concerned or some other legitimate basis laid down by law. Everyone has the right of access to data which has been collected concerning him or her, and the right to have it rectified.

3. Compliance with these rules shall be subject to control by an independent authority.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 8)

Right to marry and right to found a family

The right to marry and the right to found a family shall be guaranteed in accordance with the national laws governing the exercise of these rights.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 9)

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or in private, to manifest religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2. The right to conscientious objection is recognised, in accordance with the national laws governing the exercise of this right.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 10)

Freedom of expression and information

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

2. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 11)

Equality before the law

Everyone is equal before the law.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 20)

Non-discrimination

1. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited.

2. Within the scope of application of the Treaties and without prejudice to any of their specific provisions, any discrimination on grounds of nationality shall be prohibited.

(Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, article 21)

Beginning of majority

Majority begins at the age of eighteen.

(Common rule for all the countries of the European Union)

European Civil Laws