Brussels, 29/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the creation of the future European Fundamental Rights Agency. It will not present its proposed regulation to set this agency up until 2005. At the European Council of December 2003, the Member States decided to make the European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia, based in Vienna, into a fundamental rights agency.
The European Commission raises the following issues: 1) What should be the spheres of its activities? Should priorities be laid down? If so, which? 2) Should its competency be limited to Community law, or extended to other issues, such as article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which lays down the obligation of each Member State to respect the principles of liberty, democracy and the rule of law?. 3) Should its activities also cover third countries? 4) What should its structure and resources be? 5) How can a useful and efficient dialogue be ensured between the agency and civil society? 6) how can synergy with other partners be guaranteed?
To try to convince the European Parliament to adjust his team, José Manuel Barroso announced on Tuesday his proposal to create a "Fundamental Rights Agency", which had in fact been proposed the day before by written procedure by the Prodi Commission, and which has been in the planning stages for the last year.
The Commission's communication can be consulted at: http: //europa.eu/int/Commission/ justice_home/news/consulting_public/fundamental_rights_agency/index_en.htm.
The European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia "welcomes" the Commission's communication. "Extending the Observatory's mandate will open up a new dimension for the protection of human rights in the European Union", said Anastasia Crickley, president of the Observatory's board.