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

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted, following a special legislative procedure (Parliament’s consultation), the report by Angelika MLINAR (ADLE, AT) on the draft Council decision establishing a Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018–2022.

The committee recommended the European Parliament to give its consent to the draft Council Decision.

In the explanatory statement accompanying the draft resolution, emphasis is placed on the need to strengthen Roma integration and social inclusion and to combat anti-Gypsyism and racism directed towards Roma).

In general, the lack of agreement in the Council as regards the inclusion of the thematic areas of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the new Multiannual Framework (MAF) is deeply regrettable according to Members.

Including the area of police and judicial cooperation in the MAF would allow the Agency to provide comprehensive analysis on its own initiative in areas that are of obvious relevance to fundamental rights.

Given that one of the fundamental aspects of the work of the agency is to provide advice relating to the respect of the fundamental right in the domain of the Union law, the committee recommended that Parliament give its consent if both Commission and Council state their engagement to carefully consider to amend Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in order to:

• replace the reference to “European Community” with a reference to “European Union” (in line with the Lisbon Treaty);
• extend the scope of the FRA’s competence to include also the ‘ex-third pillar’ matters (“police cooperation”);
• improve procedures for the governance and the functioning of the Agency.

The Council and the Commission have been invited to annex a declaration in this regard to the Council decision.