“Fundamental Rights in the European Union

Date for your Diary

“Fundamental Rights in the European Union:
New Challenges and Old Issues for the Union and Member States”

European Union Fundamental Rights Agency
Irish Roundtable
11.00am – 2.00pm

Preceded by
NGO Forum
9.30am – 11.00am

Thursday, December 3rd 2009

At the National University of Ireland, Maynooth

President Mary McAleese, Uachtaráin na hÉireann
will address the opening session


Contributors Include:
- Morten Kjaerum, Director, FRA
- Anastasia Crickley, Chairperson, FRA Management Board
- Other speakers to be confirmed.



Places are limited so please let us know if you wish to attend.
Further details and programme outline will be issued to participants
Email: Marianne.oshea@nuim.ieTelephone: 01 708 6263




13th October 2009
Dear Friends,

Over the next few weeks the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union will be re-opening membership of the Fundamental Rights Platform of the Agency. I would like to encourage you to consider engaging with the Platform as a way to promote your consideration, in the EU context, of the Fundamental Rights and anti-discrimination issues you are concerned with.

Information will be available at:
http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/civil_society/fr_platform/fr_platform_en.htm

The functions of the Platform which are listed in the Regulation of the Agency are;

- To make suggestions on the Annual Work Programme
- To give feedback and suggest follow-up on the Annual Report
- To communicate outcomes and recommendations of conferences, seminars and meetings relevant to the work of the Agency.

In addition, the Agency will interact with the participants of the Fundamental Rights Platform in accordance with specific needs related to areas identified as a priority for the Agency's work.

These functions mean that, while the Platform is not a decision making body of the Agency, it has the important function of informing FRA’s work and planning.

The following criteria will apply cumulatively in determining participation in the Fundamental Rights Platform:

Organisations committed to work and with a proven record of work for the advancement of fundamental rights;

Organisations active in the areas of the Agency's Multiannual Framework;

Organizations with a specific expertise, proven experience and engagement in matters within the remit of FRA;

Organisations which are representative in the field of their competence on national, regional, European or international level;

Local/grass roots organizations may participate on the basis of specific demand by the Agency (e.g. organizations working closely and directly with victims of fundamental rights violations) in order to directly inform the work of FRA from this crucial perspective;
Organisations with an ability and capacity to act as a link between their own constituencies, national and European networks and the Platform;
Organisations which are able to make known the work of FRA in their country;


In effect, engagement with the Platform is open, attending meetings and financial support is of course limited, but even without attending everyone can play a role.

From those who attended the last meeting of the platform in Vienna last May, an advisory panel for the Fundamental Rights Platform was elected for a period of one year. The next Platform meeting will be May 2010 in Vienna.

Please get in touch with me or directly with Massimo.Toschi@fra.europa.eu if you require further information.Please note also the attached information regarding a date for your diary: A meeting for NGO’s and other civil society actors interested in the Platform will take place at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth on December 3rd before the Fundamental Rights Agency Roundtable Discussion.

Any further information you require can be accessed by following one of the links below, a number of studies have been completed over the past year which may be of interest to you.

Best wishes,

Anastasia Crickley
Chairperson of the FRA Management Board