European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights

The Council had an exchange of views on the state of play regarding the establishment and effective functioning of the Agency.

The debate focused on the main outstanding question, which is the extension of the scope of the Agency to questions relating to police and judicial penal cooperation (Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, the so-called "Third Pillar").

The Presidency called on Member States, in a constructive spirit, to help in finding a compromise solution to this question, with a view to establishing of the Agency before the end of the year, in accordance with the timeframe set by the European Council in June 2006.

In this respect, the Presidency indicated that it would submit a compromise solution to delegations in the near future.