Fast track for EU rights watchdog

A new EU ‘Fundamental Rights Agency” will be up and running by January 1 2007, Europe’s justice commissioner Franco Frattini has pledged.

Proposals to set up the new agency are to be published by the European Commission in May, to be overseen by the Luxembourg and UK EU presidencies this year.

The new body will emerge from an “extended mandate” to the already existing European Monitoring Centre for Racism and Xenophobia.

Europe’s rights watchdogs will use provisions written into the European constitution – the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights – as EU justice powers expand.

Europe’s governments will be keeping an eye on proposals to ensure that national anti-terrorism laws and immigration crackdowns are exempt from scrutiny.

Speaking in the European Parliament on Tuesday, Frattini stressed that the new watchdog would observe the “balance” between EU security drives and civil liberties.

“The commission has always taken seriously the commitment to ensure a balance between the elements of freedom, security and justice,” he said.

“In addition, the [EU] must guarantee a high level of security so that these freedoms can be exercised in full.”

Pledges to fast-track the agency were made to MEPs in October, as incoming Brussels chief José Manuel Barroso fought to preserve the then candidate for EU justice commissioner Rocco Buttiglione.

Buttiglione had outraged the parliament with his comments on homosexuals and women, triggering a crisis that led to his resignation – and a delay to Barroso’s administration.

Announcing the new agency, Frattini, as current commissioner a beneficiary of Buttiglione’s fall, has vowed to stand by promises to fight discrimination and defend rights.

“President Barroso announced last November the creation of a group of commissioners focused on fundamental rights. This group started its work in December,” he said.

“All important initiatives of the commission, particularly legislative ones, should be accompanied by an integrated assessment of their likely impact, which includes an analysis of their respect for fundamental rights as set out in the charter.”

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