II European Union
| Author | Mielle Bulterman |
| Date | 01 September 2005 |
| DOI | 10.1177/016934410502300307 |
| Published date | 01 September 2005 |
| Subject Matter | Part B: Human Rights News |
II EUROPEAN UNION
MIELLE BULTERMAN
1. FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME ON FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND
JUSTICE
On 6 April 2005, the Commission presented its Communication establishing for the
period 2007-2013 a framework programme on Fundamental Rights and Justice.
1
In
this document, the financial framework for the implementation of the measures
necessary for the promotion of human rights and judicial cooperation as elements
of the EU’s Area of Freedom, Security and Justice is set out. An important objective
of the framework programme is to simplify and rationalise existing instruments
available to the Community in this area.
As far as fundamental rights are concerned, the Commission considers the
creation of a real fundamental rights culture among all the peoples of Europe to be
the ultimate objective. The means to achieve this aim include the dissemination of
information on fundamental rights, as well as the adoption of legislation to promote
the application of specific rights.
The total budget of the framework programme for the period 2007-2013 is euro
543 million, of which euro 93.8 million are foreseen for the Fundamental Rights and
Citizenship programme. The total budget does not include the costs of the
Fundamental Rights Agency (see next section) for which an additional amount of
euro 164.9 million is made available.
2. THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AGENCY
Another document of the Commission with evident importance for the human
rights protection within the European Union, is its proposal for a Council
Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights of
30 June 2005.
2
As expected, the Commission proposes to extend the mandate of the
European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia and to create a
Fundamental Rights Agency. The Commission perceives the collection and analysis
of data on the rights listed in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights for the benefit
of the Community Institutions and the Member States as the main tasks of the
Agency. The Member States would only fall under the scrutiny of the Agency to the
extent that they implement Community law. The Commission does not intend to
give the Agency a mandate to systematically monitor Member State compliance with
fundamental rights for the purposes of Article 7 EU. However, the expertise of the
Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, Vol. 23/3 (2005) 453
1
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament establishing
for the period 2007-2013 a framework programme on fundamental rights and justice
(COM(2005)122 final).
2
Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
(COM(2005)280 final).
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