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The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) held its annual IdeasLab in Brussels on 4 and 5 March. The thinktank convened renowned experts and representatives from various sectors of society to debate EU affairs.

The EU’s European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held its ‘Civil Society Week’ in Brussels from 4 to 7 March. The flagship event gathered people of all ages and backgrounds, including youth, journalists and EU institutions, for a vibrant debate.

On 12 March, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) signed new agreements to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with two EU Agencies - Frontex and eu-Lisa.

On 5 March, FRA took part in a webinar, organised by the Prime Minister’s Office, launching the Finnish website on fundamental and human rights indicators. The website will monitor the implementation of fundamental rights in Finland.

FRA presented its approach to measuring self-identification and discrimination experiences, during the second meeting of Eurostat’s Equality and Non-Discrimination Statistics Task Force.

FRA attended the annual meeting of the EUAA training reference group in Malta on 5 March. It was joined by representatives of the European Commission, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), the UN Refugee Agency, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and the EU Asylum Agency’s Consultative Forum.

On 26 and 27 February, FRA visited the Closed Controlled Access Centre of Mavrovouni in Lesvos. The visit to this initial reception facility relates to FRA’s commitments under the December 2020 Greece-EU Memorandum of Understanding on a Multi-Purpose Reception and Identification Centre in Lesvos.

On 5 March, FRA attended a Plenary meeting of the EU Migration Preparedness and Crisis Blueprint, a mechanism established by the European Commission for better monitoring and anticipating migration movements.

FRA presented developments of its Charter tools, material and activities during a HELP seminar for EU Contact Points. These included new language translations of the Charter courses, updates of the Charterpedia and the case law database.

FRA recently added nine new language versions to its Charter e-learning platform. This development marks a significant step in FRA's commitment to providing comprehensive resources to a wider audience.

In its observer role, FRA attended the fourth and final meeting of the informal, ad-hoc and temporary group on combating anti-Muslim hatred.

FRA took part in a meeting of the Austrian task force on Ukraine on 1 March in Vienna.

Green? Carbon neutral? Many of these claims are not evidence-based. Companies use them to persuade people to buy products or services that may not be sustainable. Such greenwashing practices may deceive consumers and harm the environment. A new report from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) considers what the EU and countries should do to combat greenwashing and support consumers in making informed and environmentally friendly choices.

FRA held the closing conference of its EEA & Norway Grants-funded regional cooperation project ‘Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law’. The event raised awareness and improved understanding of NHRIs’ role in enhancing the application of the EU’s Fundamental Rights Charter at the national level and in the EU framework.

FRA attended a meeting of the EU Migration Preparedness and Crisis Blueprint. The meeting on 27 February marked the second anniversary of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.