FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AGENCY : SOCIAL INCLUSION AN OBJECTIVE FOR FRA.

• Position: Fundamental Rights Agency

Extreme poverty and social exclusion should be placed clearly among the priorities for the EU Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), according to MEPs who voted amendments to its draft five-year work programme on 17 January.

The programme, known as the multi-annual framework', sets out a list of thematic areas where the agency should focus its attention. Its overall purpose is to give advice to member states and the EU institutions on how best to ensure respect for fundamental rights when they are drawing up and implementing Community law. In addition to poverty and exclusion, the other main change made to the list by Parliament was the inclusion of a reference to multiple discrimination'. This means discrimination against a person because of any combination of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or minority status. According to rapporteur Michael Cashman (PES, UK), this was important...