Brussels, 20/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has invited individuals, NGOs, and other organisations active in the area of fundamental rights protection to submit comments in his ongoing inquiry concerning the EU Borders Agency, Frontex, which is based on Warsaw, Poland, explained the Ombudsman in a press release issued on 19 July 2012.
In March 2012, the Ombudsman asked Frontex a number of questions about the implementation of its fundamental rights obligations. Frontex replied in May 2012. Comments on Frontex's response can be submitted to the Ombudsman until 30 September 2012. In 2009, the Charter of Fundamental Rights became legally binding on Frontex. Since then, a number of civil society organisations have questioned whether Frontex is doing enough to comply with the Charter, for example, in its deployment of EU border guards to Greece where migrant detainees were kept in detention centres under conditions which have been criticised by the European Court of Human Rights.
Frontex submitted its opinion on 17 May 2012. It explained that, since 2010, it has developed a fundamental rights strategy, as well as a binding code of conduct for those participating in its activities. Frontex also listed other measures it is currently taking to ensure full respect for fundamental rights. In its report, Frontex says that a number of aspects of its new (2011) terms and conditions have yet to be introduced, such as a Fundamental Rights Officer within Frontex itself, which was demanded by the European Parliament during its negotiations with the EU Council of Ministers. Applications for the post are still being sought. (SP/transl.fl)