Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights
Background Note for the Public Call for Applications
29 June 2015
The Consultative Forum to date
The Frontex Regulation1 stipulates in its Article 26a that Frontex shall establish a Consultative
Forum (CF) of which main role is to "assist the Executive Director and the Management Board
in fundamental rights matters". The aforementioned article also provides that the CF shall “be
consulted by Frontex on the further development and implementation of the Fundamental
Rights Strategy, Code of Conduct and common core curricula”.
The CF was created in 2012 as a knowledge and expertise resource to enable the Agency,
including its Management Board (MB), to receive information and advice relevant to the aim of
promoting and respecting Fundamental Rights (FR) in all Agency’s activities. The CF has acted
as a platform for dialogue by bringing together participants from relevant European Union
Agencies and international organisations as well as from Civil Society organisations, which
represent the majority of its members).
The MB decided in September 2012, along with the Working Methods (WM) of the Frontex
Consultative Forum and the modalities for the transmission of information to the Frontex
Consultative Forum that the mandate of the civil society organisations and of three
international organisations, members of the Forum by invitation, shall be of three (3) years.
This term expires on 25 September 2015.
The composition of the CF
The CF should maintain its initial efficient structure composed of a limited number of fifteen
organisations specialised in fundamental rights matters, which forms the core group of
members. Three specialised organisations were explicitly mentioned in the Frontex Regulation
to be invited as members of the CF (FRA, EASO and UNHCR). Three additional organizations
(CoE, IOM and OSCE/ODIHR) were invited by the MB to become members of the CF according
with the Frontex MB Decision of 23 May 2012 (cf. Annex) and they will be separately invited to
renew their commitment as members of the CF until 31 December 2018.
1
Council Regulation EC No 2007/2004 as amended by European Parliament and Council Regulations
863/2007 and 1168/2011.
European Agency for the Management
of Operational Cooperation
at the External Borders of the Member States
of the European Union
www.frontex.europa.eu
Rondo ONZ 1, 00-124 Warsaw, Poland
Tel. +48 22 205 95 00
Fax +48 22 205 95 01
In order to guarantee transparency and the opportunity of participation in the CF to the widest
possible group of stakeholders, nine (9) members of the CF belonging to Civil Society
organisations will be selected following a new public call for applications. Following the public
call, and again in the interest of transparency, CF members will be chosen on the basis of public
eligibility and selection criteria adopted by the MB in 2012, which are described in the Annex
to this document. In addition, a reserve list will be established as well as a register of
organisations which could be invited as ad hoc expert organisations when discussing specific
agenda items.
The selection process
The public call will be announced in the Frontex webpage. The selection of members from Civil
Society organisations that express interest in joining the CF will be made by the Frontex
Management Board Chair, Frontex Executive Director and Frontex Consultative Forum Chair, or
their delegates, on the basis of the eligibility and selection criteria. The main purpose of the
selection procedure is to ensure representation of European and internationally active Civil
Society organisations in the CF which complement the six EU and intergovernmental members
and provide both a wide range of expertise and depth of knowledge in fundamental rights
matters.
All applicants will be informed about the outcome of their application via e-mail. The selected
organisations will be notified by a formal confirmation letter prior to a public announcement
on the Frontex website. Candidates included in the reserve list, which may be called upon for
specific advice according to future needs, will also be formally informed.
Frontex will perform the Secretariat function for the CF and reimburse its members for costs
incurred for participation in the meetings in accordance with Frontex reimbursement rules.
Timeline
Frontex has established a timeline for the selection process, as follows

Launching of the call for applications: 29/06/2015

Application deadline: 12/07/2015

Evaluations of the applications: 13 July/ 17 August 2015

MB Decisions on composition of the Consultative Forum: 10/09/2012
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ANNEX
1. Eligibility Criteria
a.
Legal status of the organisation
The organisation applying for membership in the Frontex Consultative Forum (CF) must have a
legal status according to the law of the state in which it is established.
b.
Obligations of professional secrecy
Members of the Consultative Forum and their representatives, as well as other participants
mentioned in Article 4 shall comply with the obligations of professional secrecy. They shall be
ready to sign the “Declaration of Adherence to the Obligations of Professional Secrecy” on
behalf of their organisation.
2. Selection Criteria for Civil Society Organisations
a.
Expertise
Established knowledge and experience in the areas relevant to the CF, namely in the policy
areas of fundamental rights in regard to migration and international protection, in particular
asylum, child protection, data protection, trafficking in Human Beings and safeguards in relation
to deprivation of liberty and return, as related to Frontex activities, specially focused on the
European context.
b.
Relevance
Ability of the organisation to provide input vis-à-vis the activities, objectives and strategy of
Frontex; Previous relations with Frontex and/or involvement in EU institutions and bodies in
practical cooperation measures/training/academic activities in the field of migration and
border management will be taken into account.
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c.
Extent
Representation in their field of competence at the European or international level (including
third countries). Relevance of the organisation’s geographical area of interest and location in
Europe will be taken into account;
d.
Approach
Follow evidence-based approach to research and demonstrated experience and availability to
work with a wide range of organisations from official and public institutions, in particular law
enforcement bodies, to international organisations and non-governmental organisations, in
order
to
encourage
and
foster
mutual
understanding.
Belonging
to
relevant
networks/groups/public institutions in a European context will be taken into account.
e.
Accountability
Transparent approach in view of the organisation’s responsibilities to their stakeholders (e.g.
donors, states, the public…).
f.
Commitment
Public commitment to the respect and promotion of fundamental rights listed in the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
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