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EU Agency for Fundamental Rights: multiannual framework for 2013-2017

2011/0431(APP)

PURPOSE: to establish a new Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2013-2017.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision No 252/2013/EU establishing a Multiannual Framework for 2013-2017 for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.

BACKGROUND: on 15 February 2007, the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). The Agency became operational on 1 March 2007. In accordance with the Regulation, the thematic areas of activity of the Agency will be determined through a five-year Multiannual Framework. The Agency carries out the work set out in the thematic areas determined by the Multiannual Framework. The Multiannual Framework (2007-2012) expires at the end of 2012 and a new Framework is needed for the period 2013-2017.

CONTENT: this Decision establishes a Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for the period 2013-2017.  In this context, new thematic areas are set out:

  • access to justice;
  • victims of crime, including compensation to victims of crime;
  • information society and, in particular, respect for private life and protection of personal data;
  • Roma integration;
  • judicial cooperation, except in criminal matters;
  • rights of the child;
  • discrimination based on sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation;
  • immigration and integration of migrants, visa and border control and asylum;
  • racism, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Complementarity and cooperation with other bodies: the Agency shall ensure appropriate cooperation and coordination with relevant Union bodies, offices and agencies, Member States, international organisations and civil society, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 168/2007, for the implementation of the Multiannual Framework.

The Agency will deal with issues relating to discrimination based on sex only as part of, and to the extent relevant to its work, taking into account that it is for the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) to collect data on gender equality and sex discrimination. The Agency and EIGE shall cooperate in accordance with the cooperation agreement of 22 November 2010.

The Agency will also cooperate with:

  • the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound);
  • Frontex;
  • the European Asylum Support Office (EASO);
  • the European Migration Network;
  • Eurojust;
  • Europol;
  • CEPOL and
  • the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (IT Agency).

Cooperation with these bodies shall be limited to activities falling within the scope of the thematic areas laid down in this Decision.

The Decision contains provisions to ensure that the Agency will:

  • respect the rules for the protection of personal data;
  • coordinate its activities with those of the Council of Europe in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 10 April 2013. It will apply from 1 January 2013.