Newsroom

The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU invited FRA to present key findings of its projects on high-risk AI and on the digitalisation of justice.
FRA will speak at a workshop on the challenges and opportunities of monitoring EU law compliance.
FRA and the European Committee of the Regions’ Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) will hold its Annual Dialogue. The meeting will be dedicated to the role of local and regional authorities in democracy and fundamental rights in the EU, in light of the European Democracy Shield.
FRA will take part in the annual EU Innovation Hub for Internal Security. The event will address key innovation topics for the EU internal security community such as foresight, biometrics, AI and fundamental rights.
FRA is holding an online information session for its national liaison officers and public authorities on its recent report, 'Digitalising justice: A fundamental rights-based approach'.
FRA joined the final meeting of the Working Group on Equality and Values in Education and Training in Brussels from 21 to 22 October. FRA contributed to discussions on teaching about the EU in schools and the challenges of doing so.
FRA will speak at a conference on ‘Democracy Under Threat’ that will take place on 14 November in Vienna. The Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to Central Europe, the International Institute for Peace in Vienna (IIP), in partnership with the City of Vienna’s Office for Human Rights organised the conference.
On 4 November, the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) held a hearing on the draft report on the implementation of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter in the EU legal framework. This comes as the 25th anniversary of the EU Charter nears.
The FRA Director, Sirpa Rautio, will speak during the high-level ‘Fortifying Freedom: Defence and Democracy Dialogue’ conference. Hosted by the Centre for the Study of Democracy, this one-day event will bring together representatives of government, academia and civil society to examine the new and challenging geopolitical reality and the different threats to democratic freedoms.
FRA will deliver a keynote speech during the Queer in Vienna conference on 13 November. FRA will speak about the role of data protecting fundamental rights and promoting equality using the case of its EU LGBTIQ Survey.
On 4 November, FRA took part in a meeting of the European Platform tackling undeclared work devoted to third-country national workers. The platform brings together Member State representatives, mostly labour inspectorate and related enforcement authorities.
FRA contributed to the exchange of views at the meeting of the Working Party on Fundamental Rights, Citizens' Rights and Free Movement of Persons (FREMP) on combating racism, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred.
The European Guardianship Network met in Copenhagen 23 and 24 October to discuss the challenges and implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum in the area of guardianship for unaccompanied children.
FRA’s Director Sirpa Rautio took part in a conference on the Genocide of Roma and Sinti. She was part of the panel on 'Genocide of Roma and Sinti: Distortion and Discrimination'. She highlighted how findings from the FRA Roma Survey 2024 can guide policy under the EU Roma Strategic Framework.
Sirpa Rautio
FRA Director Sirpa Rautio gave the EU perspective on the state of democracy and fundamental rights during Nyt Europe's conference on Democracy and Rights: Working together to turn hope into action. She highlighted the main challenges and opportunities in defending civic space, protecting rights, and enhancing democratic resilience. She emphasised the pivotal role of civil society in driving renewed efforts to address threats to democracy. The conference took place in Copenhagen from 6 to 7 November.
Sirpa Rautio
FRA Director, Sirpa Rautio, delivered a keynote speech during a High-Level Conference on Independent Living. Her speech focused on independent living in the UN's Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The two-day conference was organised under the auspices of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It brought together experts, ministers, representatives from EU institutions, and disability stakeholders to discuss solutions and collaboration. It took place in Copenhagen from 6 to 7 November.
Judicial authorities across Europe are embracing digital transformation by adopting AI tools, remote hearings and electronic case systems. These advances offer significant opportunities to enhance the efficiency of and access to justice, but their success hinges on strong safeguards that uphold fundamental rights and ensure equal access to justice for all, as a new report of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) shows. By identifying risks early, by investing in skills and training, and by embedding protections from the outset, policymakers and practitioners can build effective justice systems. This will empower judicial professionals to use new digital tools with confidence and competence.
FRA is reviewing its approach to large-scale surveys. It will look at content, survey design, resources to address emerging fundamental rights concerns, and potential shifts in policy priorities, as well as the changing realities of survey research.
FRA will speak the Academy of European Law (ERA) about its work on disability.