Brussels, 19/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting in Strasbourg on 12 March, under the chairmanship of Inigo Mendez de Vigo (EPP-ED, Spain), the European Parliament's Fourth World Intergroup noted with “deep regret” that the European Council of Ministers had decided on the multi-annual framework of the Fundamental Rights Agency “without taking the opinion of the European Parliament into account”. This opinion, adopted in plenary session in Strasbourg in 17 January (see EUROPE 9583) proposed that “extreme poverty and social exclusion” be taken as one of the thematic areas of the agency due to the clear link of the subject with human rights, said the intergroup in a press release.
At the vote on the agency's multi-annual framework, Mendez de Vigo put forward an amendment calling for the inclusion of persons living in extreme poverty. The amendment, which was adopted by the European Parliament, received the support of Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini. However, the last EU Justice and Home Affairs Council on 12 March refused to take the matter forward, much to the disappointment of the intergroup which “will continue to fight to respond to the aspirations of our citizens”. (G.B.)