Continuity
Mr O'Flaherty wants to ensure that the FRA research (including field studies) continues to examine legislation and policy in the light of people's real-world experiences. After all, human rights matter only in so far as they impact the lives of individuals. Mr O'Flaherty would be desirable to expand FRA's mandate to include working on police and criminal justice matters. He also feels that the socioeconomic dimensions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights should be given more attention in the new five-year Multi-Annual Framework, which takes effect in 2018.
Relevance
The Agency seeks to be relevant to today's challenges, such as the refugee crisis. As Mr O'Flaherty puts it, its aim is to '[b]e relevant to real issues in real time.' FRA will issue monthly reports on the situation, particularly as it relates to children's rights. It is currently drafting a report for the European Parliament on the criteria for establishing whether a country of origin is safe. Mr O'Flaherty is pleased with the seminars that the Netherlands Presidency has devoted to EU values and the Charter.
Impact
FRA must have an impact on the 'big issues' of the day, visibly helping to improve the situation. For Mr O'Flaherty, the goal is not to be led by the headlines of the day but to safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups in even the least known parts of the continent. The Agency is keen to work with national human rights organisations and NGOs in order to boost the impact of human rights standards in the member states, in part through the Fundamental Rights Platform. Mr O'Flaherty encouraged the Council more frequently to use the option to ask the Agency to issue an opinion on files.
