56. The Fundamental Rights Agency Of The European Union

Abstract

On 30 June 2005, the European Commission finalised both its proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. The establishment of a Fundamental Rights Agency could further improve the anticipatory approach to the compliance of the activities of the institutions of the Union with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Following the presentation by the European Commission of its proposals, the debate within the Ad hoc Working Party of the Councilthe European Parliament being consulted on it through an informal trialogue between the three institutionsrevolved around three issues. The first was that of the structure of the Agency. A second issue that the debate focused on concerned the need to avoid duplicating the work of the Council of Europe bodies. The third issue concerned the extension of the mandate of the Fundamental Rights Agency to third pillar issues. Keywords: European Commission; European Union (EU); Fundamental Rights Agency