Brussels, 15/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 February, the Council of justice and home affairs ministers formally adopted a regulation on the creation of an EU agency on fundamental rights. The regulation was the subject of a political agreement under Finnish EU presidency in December 2006. Brigitte Zypries, German Minister for Justice, said on this occasion that the European agency on fundamental rights must begin work in Vienna on 1 March to succeed the European Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia. It will be a European centre of competence for fundamental rights, she said, and will continue the work begun by the observatory. Ms Zypries said she welcomed the fact that, after intense negotiation, sound foundations had been laid for the work of the agency, allowing it to gradually start up its activities. The agency will be headed by a director and executive bureau. Each member state will appoint one representative to the board of administration and the European Commission will appoint two. The Council of Europe will also designate a representative to the board and to the executive bureau, to ensure consistency between the work of the new agency and that of the pan-European organisation that has, since 1950, carried out the role of guardian of human rights on a continental scale. (oj)