Council of the European Union and Presidencies of the Council of the European Union

FRA is mandated to provide the EU and its Member States with expertise and assistance on fundamental rights. It cooperates closely with the Council of the European Union and its rotating Presidencies. The Agency has also established structured cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council.

Council of the European Union logoThe Agency provides expertise and evidence-based advice to the Council to inform its deliberations on legislative and non-legislative files. The Council can also request formal opinions from the agency as well as to collect data to inform its work and deliberations.

Cooperation methods

The Agency contributes to the priorities and programmes of the rotating Presidencies in different ways.

The FRA Director contributes to formal and informal meetings of different Council configurations, including Justice and Home Affairs (JHA), Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) and General Affairs (GAC). Examples of contributions include:

FRA regularly provides expertise and evidence to the work of a range of Council preparatory bodies, including the following: 

FRA responds to requests for expertise, evidence or opinions on specific thematic topics made through the given Presidency. For instance: 

The Agency contributes to conferences, meetings and events organised by the Presidency as well as organising joint seminars with Presidencies. Examples of contributions to events include: 

The Agency also regularly offers a training module for FREMP Councillors on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights with the European Commission.

FRA’s Single Programming Document and Fundamental Rights Report in FREMP 

The Agency’s amended regulation (article 5a, paragraph 2) stipulates that it “shall submit the draft programming document to the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission no later than 31 January each year, as endorsed by the Management Board. In the Council, the competent preparatory body shall discuss the draft multiannual work programme and may invite the Agency to present that draft”. 

Every year, the Presidency invites FRA to participate in the discussion on the draft single programming document (February) and to present its Fundamental Rights Report in FREMP (June).