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Multiannual framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022

2016/0204(APP)

PURPOSE: to establish a Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 established a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights which became operational on 1 March 2007. The objective of the Agency is to provide the relevant institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union and its Member States, when implementing Union law.

In order for the Agency to carry out its tasks properly, a Multiannual Framework is to be adopted by the Council every five years, determining the thematic areas of the Agency's work. The first Multiannual Framework covered the period from 2007-2012. The current Multiannual Framework (2013-2017) expires at the end of 2017.

The Agency refers to fundamental rights as defined in Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union. The Agency is not a legislative or a standard setting body. Its work is instrumental in providing data, assistance and expertise on fundamental rights issues to support evidence-based policy making across the EU, thereby also contributing to the development of a culture of fundamental rights in the EU.

CONTENT: the objective of this proposal is to establish the Multiannual Framework for the Agency for Fundamental Rights for the years 2018-2022.

Thematic areas: this proposal confirms the relevance for the next five year period of the thematic areas laid down for the Agency for 2013-2017. No theme is withdrawn.

The Commission proposes to remove the exclusion of judicial cooperation in criminal matters and adding a reference to police cooperation. In addition, within the theme related to Roma integration, social inclusion aspects would be strengthened.

The thematic areas proposed for the Multiannual Framework of the Agency for the years 2018-2022 are therefore the following:

  • access to justice and victims of crime;
  • equality and non-discrimination;
  • information society and, in particular, respect for private life and protection of personal data;
  • judicial and police cooperation;
  • migration, borders, asylum and integration of refugees and migrants;
  • racism, xenophobia and related intolerance;
  • rights of the child;
  • Roma integration and social inclusion.

Complementarity with the remit of other Union bodies: the Multiannual Framework should include provisions with a view of ensuring complementarity with the remit of other Union bodies, offices and agencies, as well as with the Council of Europe and other international organisations active in the field of fundamental rights.

The most relevant Union agencies and bodies in relation to this Multiannual Framework are:

  • the European Asylum Support Office (EASO);
  • the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX);
  • the European Migration Network;
  • the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE);
  • the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS);
  • the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA);
  • the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (EUROJUST);
  • the European Police Office (EUROPOL);
  • the European Police College (CEPOL);
  • the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (EUROFOUND);
  • the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA).

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the proposal does not have any direct implication for the EU budget. The Agency will develop projects within the areas of its Multiannual Framework and within the human and financial resources in the Agency's annual budget as adopted by the budgetary authority. This will be detailed in the Agency's programming documents.