Translate the following English sentence to French:
"The aim was to tie the various Member States to a basic set of principles and to the observance of certain standards, while still leaving them completely free in this matter. This is what is happening today."
On a tenté de lier les différents États membres à un ensemble de principes de base et au respect d' un type donné de normes, mais en laissant les États membres complètement libres en la matière.