FRA chairs EU agencies in year of institutional change

“As the EU seeks to get even closer to its citizens in a year of institutional change, 2014 is a crucial year for the entire European project,” says the new chairman of the network FRA Director Morten Kjaerum. “With EU Agencies situated across the EU they help remind citizens of the important benefits the EU has brought and continues to bring to everyone across the region. FRA is proud to take charge of the EU agencies network to help ensure agencies can help fly the flag for the EU in these potentially challenging times.”

The network of EU Agencies improves the coordination, information exchange and agreement of common positions on issues of shared interest among agencies. The network’s priorities for 2014 include:

• greater use of wealth of agency intelligence by the public, stakeholders and the media;
• increasing agency visibility, reputation and relevance among EU citizens;
• further enhancing cooperation and networking among agencies;
• improving the standing of agencies among EU institutions and national parliaments;
• capitalising on the network’s expertise by promoting diversity in the workplace within EU institutions and its agencies;
• implementing the European Commission’s Roadmap for a common approach towards EU Agencies;
• implementing new rules for EU staff and its financing.

On 12 March, the formal handover of chairmanship of the network will take place. It will be followed by a panel discussion in Vienna about EU Agencies within the European landscape. The event has been organised at the House of the European Union in Vienna in cooperation with the European Commission representation in Austria. The discussion aims to identify how EU Agencies and the national institutions can cooperate in achieving common objectives and bringing the EU institutions closer to its citizens.

For further information please contact: media@fra.europa.eu 
Tel.: +43 1 580 30 642

Notes to editors:

• FRA took over the Chair from the European Railway Agency (ERA) from 1 March. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) will be the next Chair on 1 March 2015.
• There are currently 40 EU agencies working on many areas such as: health, safety and the environment; freedom, justice and security; education, business and innovation for growth and jobs; and transport and satellite infrastructure.
• The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is mandated to provide evidence-based advice to EU and national decision makers, thereby contributing to more informed and better targeted debates and policies on fundamental rights.