European Parliament resolution of 1 June 2017 on the Multiannual Framework for 2018-2022 for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2017/2702(RSP))
Date: 2017-06-01
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU migration policy, EU police cooperation, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, anti-discriminatory measure, fundamental rights, help for victims, information society, judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the EU, operation of the Institutions, social integration








C_2018307EN.01016101.xml










30.8.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 307/161






P8_TA(2017)0239
Multiannual Framework for the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022 (Resolution)
European Parliament resolution of 1 June 2017 on the Multiannual Framework for 2018-2022 for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2017/2702(RSP))
(2018/C 307/25)

The European Parliament,






—


having regard to the draft Council decision establishing a Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018–2022 (14423/2016),










—


having regard to the request for consent submitted by the Council in accordance with Article 352 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (C8-0528/2016),










—


having regard to the recommendation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (A8-0177/2017), submitted under Rule 99(1) and (4) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,










—


having regard to its position of 13 December 2012 on the draft Council decision establishing a Multiannual Framework for 2013-2017 for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (10449/2012 — C7-0169/2012 — 2011/0431(APP)) (1),










—


having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2016 on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2015 (2),










—


having regard to the statements by the Commission and the Council of 31 May 2017 on the Multiannual Framework for 2018-2022 for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights,










—


having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas the European Union is committed to guaranteeing the rights proclaimed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;










B.


whereas the draft Council decision establishing a Multiannual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2018-2022, submitted to Parliament for consent, includes eight thematic areas: victims of crime and access to justice; equality and discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation, or on the grounds of nationality; information society and, in particular, respect for private life and protection of personal data; judicial cooperation, except in criminal matters; migration, borders, asylum and integration of refugees and migrants; racism, xenophobia and related intolerance; rights of the child; and integration and social inclusion of Roma with a focus on anti-Gypsyism;










C.


whereas including the area of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the Multiannual Framework would not only reflect the needs on the ground, but would also allow the Agency to provide comprehensive analysis on its own initiative in areas that are of obvious relevance to fundamental rights, especially given the recent and ongoing legislative developments at EU level in this field;










D.


whereas following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters have become part of Union law and are therefore covered by the scope of the tasks of the Agency, as all areas falling within the competences of the Union, under Article 3(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007;










E.


whereas even if police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters are not included in the Council Decision establishing a Multiannual Framework, the Agency will be able to continue to carry out its tasks in these areas upon request from Parliament, the Council or the Commission, under Article 5(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007;










F.


whereas the establishment of the Agency’s Multiannual Framework for 2018-2022 is necessary to ensure continuity in its activities and whereas the lack of a new Multiannual Framework in place by the beginning of 2018 would entail that the Agency could only work if there is a specific request from an institution and not on its own initiative;












1.


Regrets the lack of agreement in the Council as regards the inclusion of the proposed thematic areas of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the new Multiannual Framework;












2.


Reiterates the importance of the work of the Agency and its key role in the promotion of fundamental rights across the EU;












3.


Considers that one of the fundamental aspects of the work of the Agency is to continue providing support relating to respect for fundamental rights in the domain of Union law, thus requiring that the activities of the Agency do not suffer interruption;












4.


Welcomes the Commission and Council statements and insists on the need to improve the working procedures for the governance and the functioning of the Agency and to clarify that the Agency’s competences also include the ‘ex-third pillar’ matters of police cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal matters;












5.


Takes note of the divergent opinions of the Commission and Council on the interpretation of the Agency’s founding Regulation, and calls on both institutions to reach an agreement as soon as possible;












6.


Invites the Commission, following the external evaluation of the Agency in 2017, to present a proposal for amendments to Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 which it considers necessary to improve the procedures for the governance and the functioning of the Agency and to align the Regulation with the Lisbon Treaty, as provided for in Article 31(2) of that Regulation;












7.


Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights.






(1)  OJ C 434, 23.12.2015, p. 262.

(2)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0485.