BIM Annual Report 2008 - Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für ...

Fundamental Rights / Human Rights general BIM Annual Report 2008
Assistance to the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency
Summary
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), established on 1 March 2007 in Vienna,
has resumed and continuously expanded the work of the former European Monitoring Centre on Racism
and Xenophobia (EUMC) in 2008. The Agency’s objective is to provide the relevant institutions
and authorities of the EU and its Member States with assistance and expertise relating to fundamental
rights when implementing the Community law.
Above and beyond giving advice to institutions and Member States, FRA is in charge of the collection
and analysis of comparable information and data on the fundamental rights situation in the EU, as well
as in developing methods and standards to improve the quality and comparability of data at EU level.
The Agency’s main tasks further comprise the realisation and promotion of scientific research and surveys
as well as co-operation with civil society and awareness-raising, aimed at the establishment of a
network through a Fundamental Rights Platform. On 23 January 2008 the Council adopted a Multiannual
Framework for the Agency according to which FRA will primarily be engaged in the following issues:
racism, xenophobia and intolerance, all forms of discrimination, compensation of victims, the
rights and protection of children, asylum, immigration and integration, visa and border control, the right
to democratic participation in the EU, data protection and respect for private life, and last not least access
to efficient and independent justice.
Hannes Tretter is the Austrian independent member of the Management Board (MB) of FRA, which is
in charge of the formulation of a Multiannual Framework Programme for the Agency, the determination
of FRA’s annual work programme and budgeting, the adoption of the annual report and the appointment
and dismissal of the Agency’s director. On 7 March 2008 the MB decided to appoint Morten
Kjærum from Denmark as first Director of the Agency, who took up his post on 1 June 2008. In his
function as vice chair of the FRA MB, Hannes Tretter is also member of the Executive Board, which
prepares the decisions of the MB and consults the director.
In the exercise of these functions the scientific assistance provided by the BIM is essential, with regard
to research on and suitable preparation of issues and questions in the context of the tasks of FRA and
the MB. Additionally, it includes the organisation and managing of “Round Table” discussions in Austria,
the coordination of scientific institutions, NGOs, political actors and public authorities, as well as
the dissemination of information on FRA’s activities amongst the latter and the public.
Homepage: http://fra.europa.eu
Country
Persons
involved
Austria
Vice Chair of
FRA Management Board
Scientific and administrative
assistance
Hannes Tretter
Astrid Steinkellner (until end of 2008)
Agnes Eder (December 2008)
Anna Müller-Funk (since beginning of 2009)
Contact person
Astrid Steinkellner, astrid.steinkellner@univie.ac.at
Lead
organisation
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute
of Human Rights –
Research Association
Partner
organisation(s)
-
Starting/
end date
Funded by
Ongoing since September 2007
Republic of Austria – Federal Chancellery
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