THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 of 15 February 2007 establishing a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights(1), and in particular Article 5(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
Whereas:
(1) Bearing in mind the objectives of the foundation of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (hereinafter the Agency) and in order for the Agency to carry out its tasks properly, the precise thematic areas of its activity are to be determined by a Multi-annual Framework covering five years as stipulated in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007.
(2) The Framework should include the fight against racism, xenophobia and related intolerance amongst the thematic areas of the Agency’s activity.
(3) The Framework should be in line with Union’s priorities, taking due account of the orientations resulting from the European Parliament resolutions and Council conclusions in the field of fundamental rights.
(4) The Framework should have due regard to the Agency’s financial and human resources and should be conducted only within the scope of Community law.
(5) The Framework should include provisions with a view of ensuring complementarity with the remit of other Community and Union bodies, offices and agencies, as well as with the Council of Europe and other international organisations active in the field of fundamental rights. The most relevant Community agencies and bodies in relation to this Multi-annual Framework are the European Institute for Gender Equality established by Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality(2) and the European Data Protection Supervisor established by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data(3), and the European Ombudsman, the objectives of which should consequently be taken into account.
(6) The Commission, while preparing its proposal, has consulted the Management Board of the Fundamental Rights Agency during its meeting of 12-13 July 2007 and received written comments by letter of 25 July 2007.
(7) This Framework defines the precise thematic areas of the work of the Agency, whereas several permanent tasks of the Agency are determined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 168/2007, inter alia, the task of raising the awareness of the general public about their fundamental rights and about active dissemination of information about the work of the Agency.
(8) The Agency, upon a request of the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission, provided its financial and human resources so permit, can work outside the thematic areas determined in the Multi-annual Framework, in accordance with Article 5(3) of the Regulation (EC) No 168/2007,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: