Finland pushes for agency compromise

The Finnish presidency is hoping to reach agreement on setting up an EU fundamental rights agency at a meeting of justice ministers despite continued opposition from some member states over its remit.

With less than three months before the agency is scheduled to start, Finland is expected to suggest that the agency should have scope over some areas involving national police and security agencies but not all, as a way of trying to reach a compromise.

During a meeting this week with the European Commission and the Parliament, the presidency proposed the compromise in the hope that justice ministers will sign off on the agency tomorrow (6 October).

Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and the UK have opposed giving the agency powers to conduct police, judicial and security reviews saying this competency lies with member states.

They are willing to allow the agency to have powers over community law, including discrimination, racism, social and employment rights but the European Parliament, the Commission and other member states believe the agency’s remit should be broader.

"We in the Parliament don’t see it as acceptable to have a human rights agency without the third pillar [of intergovern­mental co-operation] …for me this will not be a human rights agency," said Kinga Gál, centre-right Hungarian MEP, who is the Parliament’s representative in meetings with the Commission and Council on the agency.

"Member states’ behaviour is interesting because they didn’t postpone the date for the agency to begin. In fact, they reaffirmed it in June. And this despite the opposition," she added.

The Parliament will debate the issue next Wednesday (11 October) and may take a vote depending on what ministers decide in Council.

Germany in particular believes that only when the EU constitution, which would move justice matters into EU competence, comes into force could the agency have a remit in these areas and therefore is expected to oppose Finland’s compromise idea.

The agency, first proposed by EU leaders in December 2003, will have a budget of €13 million at the beginning of the 2007-13 financial period and €30m by the end. Some human rights experts have questioned such a budget if the agency has a narrow scope.

The Finnish presidency is hoping to reach agreement on setting up an EU fundamental rights agency at a meeting of justice ministers despite continued opposition from some member states over its remit.