Scope

The Charter applies to the European institutions, subject to the EU principle of subsidiarity (which requires action to be taken at the most local level at which it will be effective) and may under no circumstances extend the powers and tasks conferred on them by the Treaties. The Charter also applies to EU countries when they implement EU law. If any of the rights correspond to rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, the meaning and scope of those rights is to be the same as defined by the Convention, though EU law may provide for more extensive protection. Any of the rights derived from the common constitutional traditions of EU countries must be interpreted in accordance with those traditions.