Resources made available to the Agency in 2008

Competences of the Agency as specified in Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 of 15 February 2007

Areas of Community competence deriving from the Treaty

Collection of information — The Commission may, within the limits and under conditions laid down by the Council in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, collect any information and carry out any checks required for the performance of the tasks entrusted to it. (Article 284)

Objectives — To provide the relevant institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Community and its Member States when implementing Community law with assistance and expertise relating to fundamental rights in order to support them when they take measures or formulate courses of action within their respective spheres of competence to fully respect fundamental rights.

Main tasks — To collect, record, analyse and disseminate relevant, objective, reliable and comparable information and data — To develop methods and standards to improve the comparability, objectivity and reliability of data at European level — To carry out, cooperate with or encourage scientific research and surveys, preparatory studies and feasibility studies — To formulate and publish conclusions and opinions on specific thematic topics, for the Union institutions and the Member States when implementing Community law — To publish an annual report on fundamental-rights issues covered by the areas of the Agency’s activity — To publish thematic reports based on its analysis, research and surveys — To publish an annual report on its activities — To develop a communication strategy and promote dialogue with civil society.

1 — Management Board Composition One independent person appointed by each Member State, one independent person appointed by the Council of Europe and two representatives of the Commission. Duties To adopt the budget, work programme and annual reports. To adopt the final budget and the establishment plan. To give an opinion on the final accounts. 2 — Executive Board Composition — Chairperson of the Management Board — Vice-Chairperson of the Management Board — One representative of the Commission — Two other members of the Management Board — The person appointed by the Council of Europe in the Management Board may participate in the meetings of the Executive Board 3 — Scientific Committee Composition — Eleven independent persons, highly qualified in the field of fundamental rights — The Management Board shall appoint the members following a transparent call for applications and selection procedure 4 — Director Appointed by the Management Board on a proposal from the Commission and after opinions of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union (who will state their preference). 5 — External audit Court of Auditors 6 — Internal control The Commission’s internal audit service 7 — Discharge authority Parliament on recommendation by the Council

Budget 15 million euro (14,2 million euro) Staff at 31 December 2008: 49 (46) foreseen in the establishment plan, of which occupied: 35 (34) + 23 (11) other staff (contract staff, seconded national experts, interim staff) Total staff: 72 (57) undertaking the following tasks operational: 42 (31) administrative: 24 (21) mixed: 6 (5)