L 354/62 Official Journal of the European Union 28.12.2013 REGULATION (EU) No 1381/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 December 2013 establishing a Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme for the period 2014 to 2020 (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Articles 19(2), 21(2), 114, 168, 169 and 197 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee ('), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (%), Whereas: (1) The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Those values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimi- nation, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail. Persons are entitled to enjoy in the Union the rights conferred on them by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Furthermore, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the "Charter"), which with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon became legally binding across the Union, reflects the fundamental rights and freedoms to which persons are entitled in the Union. Those rights should be promoted and respected. The full enjoyment of those rights, as well as of the rights deriving from international conventions to which the Union has acceded, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, should be guaranteed and any obstacles should be dismantled. Furthermore, the enjoyment of those rights entails responsibilities and duties with regard to other persons, to the human community and to future gener- ations. () O] C 191, 29.6.2012, p. 108. () O] C 277, 13.9.2012, p. 43. (®) Position of the European Parliament of 11 December 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 16 December 2013. (% OJ C 115, 4.5.2010, p. 1. 20  In the Stockholm Programme (*) the European Council reaffirmed the priority of developing an area of freedom, security and justice and specified as a political priority the achievement of a Europe of rights. Financing was identified as one of the important tools for the successful implementation of the Stockholm Programme’s political priorities. The ambitious goals set by the Treaties and by the Stockholm Programme should be attained inter alia by establishing, for the period 2014 to 2020, a flexible and effective Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (the "Programme") which should facilitate planning and implementation. The general and specific objectives of the Programme should be interpreted in line with the relevant strategic guidelines defined by the European Council. (3)  The Commission Communication of 3 March 2010 on the Europe 2020 Strategy sets out a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Supporting and promoting the rights of persons within the Union, tackling discrimination and inequalities and promoting Union citizenship contribute to the promotion of the specific objectives and flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. (4)  Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of the Union. Article 19 TFEU provides for action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Non-discrimination is also enshrined in Article 21 of the Charter, which should be applied within the limits of, and in accordance with, Article 51 of the Charter. The specific features of the diverse forms of discrimination should be accommodated and appropriate action should be developed in parallel to prevent and combat discrimination on one or more grounds. (5)  The Programme should be implemented in a mutually reinforcing manner with other Union activities that have the same objectives, in particular with those referred to in the Commission Communication of 5 April 2011 entitled "An EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020" (°) and in the Council conclusions of 19 May 2011 on an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, which call on the Member States to address the social and economic exclusion of Roma by pursuing a mainstreaming approach in four key areas — education, employment, health and housing, as well as by ensuring that Roma are not discriminated against but accorded equal recognition of their fundamental rights, and to take measures to eliminate segregation where it exists, notably in the areas of education and housing. () 0] C 258, 2.9.2011, p. 6.