EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is one of the EU’s decentralised agencies. These agencies are set up to provide expert advice to the institutions of the EU and the Member States on a range of issues. FRA helps to ensure that the fundamental rights of people living in the EU are protected.

 

What we do

1) Large-scale surveys

• First EU-wide survey of experiences of discrimination and victimisation of immigrants and ethnic minorities (EUMIDIS): 23,500 people from immigrant and ethnic minority groups
• Largest ever survey on gender-based violence against women in all EUMember States: 42,000 women
• Largest ever EU-wide survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hate crime and discrimination: 93,000 LGBT people  Survey to show the living conditions and situation of discrimination among Roma: 85,000 people
• Antisemitism survey: 6,000 Jewish people

 

2) Comparative legal or social research

• Victim support services in the EU: an overview and assessment of victims' rights in practice
• Hate crime in the European Union
• Data protection remedies
• Access to justice
• Children and justice
• Fundamental rights of irregular migrants in the EU
• Fundamental rights of people with intellectual disabilities and people with mental health problems
• Political participation of people with disabilities

 

3) Handbooks for legal practitioners These handbooks present EU legislation and case law in an accessible way. FRA has covered the following topics:

• asylum, borders and immigration;
• data protection;
• non-discrimination.

 

FRA also holds an annual Fundamental Rights Conference. The conference brings together 300–400 key stakeholders, ranging from EU to national and local institutions, civil society organisations and practitioners, to discuss specific issues. For example: hate crime (2013); access to justice in times of austerity (2012); fundamental rights of irregular migrants (2011); and rights of the child (2010).

 

Who we work with

FRA maintains close links with relevant institutions and organisations at all levels:

• The European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission and EU agencies;
• National government authorities, particularly through its network of National Liaison Officers, who act as main contact points for FRA in Member States, and through thematic working groups on Roma and hate crime bringing together Member States’ representatives to develop good practices for implementation nationally;
• International organisations, such as the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE);
• Civil society organisations, academic institutions, equality bodies and national human rights institutions.

 

FRA organises smaller meetings with governmental experts and other stakeholders to support the follow-up of its research findings. These meetings pool knowledge and highlight promising practices that could help address specific fundamental rights challenges. FRA engages in structured dialogue with civil society through the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP). The FRP is the agency’s channel for cooperation and information exchange with almost 400 civil society organisations, working on numerous fundamental rights issues across the EU. The platform brings together a diverse group of actors on the European, national and local levels. It is a unique forum that allows for a truly European debate on fundamental rights. The platform meets once a year.