Brussels, 02/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 27 September, the management board of Frontex, the European agency responsible for managing the EU's external borders, appointed an “officer” to take responsibility for fundamental rights. This decision complies with the new agency mandate approved by member states and the European Parliament in June 2011. The Frontex management board also adopted the work programme of the Advisory Forum on Fundamental Rights, a body that is also covered by the new Frontex mandate. A press release indicated that the agency had appointed Inmaculada Arnaez Fernandez from Spain to this position in charge of fundamental rights. Fernandez is a trained lawyer and is currently working at the OSCE. She will be in charge of ensuring that Frontex-led operations, such as responsibility for the reception of intercepted migrants or return procedures for the latter to their countries of origin, respect international standards, particularly the right to international protection.
The creation of the post of “chief” for fundamental rights is a new step for Frontex and was taken at the behest of the Parliament in its negotiations with the Council. MEPs were particularly concerned about the lack of control over operations carried out by the agency. The setting up of an Advisory Forum on Fundamental Rights was also largely down to a request made by the Parliament. This new structure has been set up to inform and advise Frontex and its board of management on issues involving respect for fundamental rights. It will consist of representatives from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). The Council of Europe will also be represented, the agency explained in its press release. (SP/trans.fl)