European Agency for Fundamental Rights: EU Parliament to play bigger role in new Agency

Commenting on the adoption of a draft opinion on the future 'European Agency for Fundamental Rights' by the EU Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee today, the rapporteur, Green MEP Cem Özdemir said:

"The Foreign Affairs Committee has today given broad support to the establishment of a European Agency for Fundamental Rights in Vienna, as a successor to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia. This is a very important step in guaranteeing the respect of human and civil rights both in EU Member States of the European Union and beyond.

"The opinion, approved by the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduces some important improvements to the original Commission proposal. Notably, not only the Commission but also the European Parliament and the Council should have the right to direct requests to the future agency. The European Parliament must have an expanded role in the new agency. It must become an important tool for all three EU institutions to ensure the respect of fundamental rights.

The committee opinion also calls for the scope of competencies of the Agency to be expanded to include third countries. Naturally, the primary role of the Agency is to focus on EU Member States' compliance with Article 6 (2) of the EU Treaty and the Charter for Fundamental Rights. But the Agency should also get a mandate for accession candidates and countries covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy. In addition, the agency should play a role in monitoring third countries with which the Community has concluded association agreements (or is planning to open negotiations for such agreements) containing provisions on respect of human rights.

Finally, the agency should coordinate its activities closely with those of the Council of Europe to avoid unnecessary duplication of activities. This coordination should be laid down in a bilateral agreement between the Agency and the Council of Europe"

Note to editors:

The Commission proposal for setting up a 'European Agency for Fundamental Rights' is treated under the enhanced cooperation procedure, which implies the Civil Liberties Committee has to take into account the opinion made in the Foreign Affairs Committee and to include it fully in its report. The date for the vote in the Civil Liberties Committee has not been decided yet. The Trialogue between Commission, Council and Parliament on the Agency has started on 25 April.

Source: www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/123/123346.european_agency_for_fundamental_rights@en.htm