NHRIs in EU member states and in non-EU countries participating as observers to the FRA (Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia) can turn to FRA for support.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Which NHRIs can request support?
Brief presentation
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is the EU’s independent centre of fundamental rights excellence. It was established with a legal mandate to provide independent evidence-based assistance and expertise relating to fundamental rights in the domain of European Union (EU) law.
As set out in its founding regulation, the FRA’s objective is to support the EU and its Member States when they “take measures or formulate courses of action within their respective spheres of competence to […] fully respect fundamental rights”.
To achieve this, FRA collects and analyses comparable, objective and reliable information and data that are relevant to developing and implementing policies on fundamental rights. It provides independent evidence-based advice to policymakers, cooperates and promotes networking with stakeholders, communicates its work to key target groups and raises awareness of fundamental rights. It is also mandated to formulate opinions to the Union institutions and to Member States when implementing Union law regarding compatibility with fundamental rights. FRA fulfils its mission in complete independence and in a way that reflects the professional conduct and values expected from an EU agency.
Scope of the action
The Agency carries out its tasks within the competences of the European Union. In carrying out its tasks, the Agency refers to fundamental rights as referred to in Article 6 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU). The Agency deals with fundamental rights issues in the Union and the Member States when implementing Union law, except for Union or Member States’ acts or activities in relation to or in the framework of the common foreign and security policy. The Agency’s geographical scope is limited to the EU Member States and EU candidate countries participating as observers in FRA’s work – Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia at present.
The FRA is committed to support independent national human rights institutions and commissions, ombudspersons and equality bodies, in line with the Paris and Venice Principles, and engages directly with them.
Support to NHRIs under threat
☐ Public support
☑ Private and diplomatic engagement
☑ Policy recommendations
☐ Legal opinions
☑ In-country missions
☐ Funding and direct support
☑ Other actions
How to access the support
NHRIs as well as the regional networks of NHRIs can reach out to FRA’s Institutional Cooperation and Networks unit, at NHRBteam@fra.europa.eu. NHRIs can share information about their current situation, including legal and administrative challenges to their independence or direct threats against their members with the FRA. FRA will analyze the information and can consider private or public diplomacy actions in favor of NHRIs.
Several members of the Agency’s independent Management Board are also connected to their country’s NHRI. They could also be approached by NHRIs to transfer relevant information to the Agency’s experts.
Examples of past support
In reference to policy recommendations: In 2020, FRA published an extensive report Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities
In reference to policy recommendations and in-country missions: Since 2020, FRA has supported those Member States without NHRI to set up an NHRI and implemented capacity building activities, to strengthen NHRIs further. FRA has in particular issued regular updates on NHRIs’ mandates and accreditations.
In reference to public support and in country missions: FRA cooperates closely with regional networks of NHRIs and equality bodies, with the Council of Europe, with the UN and the OSCE/ODIHR.
Broader engagement with NHRIs, beyond threats
FRA considers National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) as a vital part of the country-level human rights protection system. In a 2020 Report, Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities, FRA looked at the situation of NHRIs in the EU, as well as the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Serbia, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It explored relevant developments, challenges to their effectiveness and ways to maximise their impact in the context of EU law and policy making.
The findings underscore that, to fulfil their potential, NHRIs need a clear mandate, independence, adequate resources, and pluralism in their memberships, to reflect our societies’ diversity. They also need to comply with the Paris Principles on the independence and effectiveness of NHRIs endorsed by the United Nations.
The FRA has systematically communicated and advised policy makers about its Opinions on strengthening NHRIs. The Opinions of the report are clustered under the following six headings, highlighting key aspects identified in this report.
- Paris Principles-compliant A-status NHRIs in all EU Member States;
- Enhanced roles for NHRIs in the EU – independent fundamental rights monitoring;
- Impactful and secure institutions;
- Independent NHRIs;
- Institutions reflecting diversity – in an environment conducive to human rights;
- Adequately resourced NHRIs.
Since 2020, FRA has supported those Member States without NHRI to set up an NHRI and implemented capacity building activities, to strengthen NHRIs further. Since 2021, FRA has in particular issued regular updates on NHRIs’ mandates and accreditations (see NHRI Accreditation Status and Mandates – 2025 update) FRA cooperates closely with regional networks of NHRIs and equality bodies, with the Council of Europe, with the UN and the OSCE/ODIHR.
FRA is an international partner organization of the EEA and Norway Grants (together with the Council of Europe and the OECD). Since June 2022, FRA, as lead partner in partnership with 7 NHRIs, as national partners, and ENNHRI, as expertise partner, has implemented a capacity building project, supporting NHRIs to increase the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in their functions and activities; to monitor rule of law and to build capacity in monitoring compliance of EU funds with the EU Charter. The project contributed to the development of new knowledge, skills and practices and concluded in February 2024. FRA, in cooperation with ENNHRI, intends to develop similar support projects for NHRIs in the future.
In addition, NHRIs have a possibility to seek nomination to the FRA’s Management Board. The FRA Regulation stipulates: “The Management Board shall be composed of persons with sound knowledge in the field of fundamental rights and with appropriate experience in the management of public or private sector organisations, including administrative and budgetary skills, as follows: one independent person appointed by each Member State, having high level responsibilities in an independent national human rights institution or other public or private sector organization” (Article 12, FRA Regulation).
Relevant sources and materials
- Regular update on mandates and accreditation of NHRIs in the EU, North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania NHRI Accreditation Status and Mandates – 2025 update | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
- 2020 FRA NHRIs report Strong and effective national human rights institutions – challenges, promising practices and opportunities | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (europa.eu)
- 2022-2024 FRA project Supporting National Human Rights Institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (europa.eu)
- Monitoring fundamental rights during screening and the asylum border procedure – A guide on national independent mechanisms | European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
- Consolidated version of FRA Founding Regulation 2022/555 of 5 April 2022.
