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2007 discharge: European Union Fundamental Rights Agency FRA

2008/2257(DEC)

PURPOSE: to present the final accounts of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (formerly the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia) for the financial year 2007.

CONTENT: this document sets out a detailed account of the implementation of the 2007 budget, including the revenue and expenditure and the balance sheet for the year concerned. To recall, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), which succeeded to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) and extended its competencies, was established through Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007. FRA carries out its tasks independently and cooperates with national and international bodies and organisations, in particular with the Council of Europe.

According to this document, the final budget amounted to EUR 14.2 million (compared to EUR 9.3 million in 2006) representing a 98% Community contribution.

As regards staffing policy, the Centre, whose head office is based in Vienna (Austria), officially set out 46 posts in its establishment plan. 34 of these are currently occupied and there are 11 other members of staff (contract agents, seconded national experts and employment agency staff), totalling 57 members of staff assigned to administrative, operational and mixed tasks. Staff expenditure amounted roughly to EUR 3.903 million in 2007.

During 2007, the Agency’s activities concentrated on the following:

RAXEN network:

  • Number of contributions by the 25 national focal points: 245;
  • Number of contributions in the context of the PHARE Croatia/Turkey project: 6;
  • Number of meetings: 1

Research reports:

  • Number of reports: 4;
  • Number of meetings: 6;
  • Annual Reports: 2

Non-research materials:

  • Various FRA publications: 15

Cooperation with Member States and other institutions:

  • Member States: 7;
  • European Commission: 8;
  • European Parliament: 6;
  • Committee of the Regions: 1;
  • European Economic and Social Committee: 3;
  • Council of Europe: 4;
  • OSCE: 5;
  • Inter-Agency: 2;
  • United Nations: 2;
  • Other meetings and round tables: 23.

The complete version of the final accounts may be found at the following address: http://www.fra.europa.eu/fra/index.php