This book stems from a concern with the role of the Charter in fostering a constitutional moment in Europe.It addresses the question of the nature and character of the Charter, why it is needed, and what is its contribution to the constitution making process in the EU.The book is divided in three sections. The first section deals with why a charter of fundamental rights is needed. The section includes a chapter comparing the European and the Canadian Charters. In the second section, the processes and deliberations leading to the formation of the Charter are discussed. The last section deals with the legal and normative coherence of the Charter and includes a chapter on the need for a European constitution.This book is composed of 12 essays from specialists in the field of European Integration Processes and Constitutionalism, among others Neil MacCormick and Jurgen Habermas.