Round table and study visit at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

As part of the project Supporing national human rights institutions in monitoring fundamental rights and the fundamental rights aspects of the rule of law, in March 2023, the Centre participated in an expert round table discussion and a study visit at FRA in Vienna, with the aim of increasing capacities and preparing the implementation of follow-up activities of the project, including targeted trainings on the application of the Charter fundamental rights of the EU (Charter).

During the round table discussion, which took place on 21 and 22 March, together with other project partners, the Centre discussed the key findings in the framework of the activities carried out as part of the project and discussed in more detail the goals of the planned project activities. The planned outputs include, for example, a baseline report, a report on mapping of human rights structures, examples of good practice in the use of the Charter and an analytical report on the observance of fundamental rights in the implementation of EU funds.

As part of the discussion, the Centre presented in more detail its findings from the Report on the role of national human rights institutions in ensuring the compliance of EU funds with commitments in the field of fundamental rights in Slovakia, which was preceded by several expert interviews conducted with the representatives of identified national actors, including the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic, the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities as well as the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of the Slovak Republic.

Part of the round table discussion also consisted of a panel discussion and exchange of examples of good practice on the application of the Charter at the national level, analysis of implementation problems, as well as the potential for better use of the Charter by national human rights institutions. The last part of the round table was devoted specifically to the experience of using the Charter in judicial proceedings, which also included presentations of the experiences of the invited experts.

The round table was followed by a study visit, during which the Centre participated in several thematic workshops led by experts from FRA. The workshops were mainly aimed at increasing the capacities for the successful application of the Charter, as well as in the areas of monitoring the rule of law and the implementation of EU funds with regard to fundamental rights. As part of the study visit, the Centre also led one of the mentioned thematic workshops focused on the area of increasing capacities in the area of monitoring the state of the rule of law. Part of this practical workshop included, among others, an overview of the specific activities that the Centre has undertaken in this area over the past year, as well as a presentation and discussion on the usability of a practical tool that the Centre has created in the field of monitoring and reporting on the state of the rule of law in Slovakia. More information about the practical tool is available at: https://www.snslp.sk/en/rule-of-law-tracker/.

The Centre would also like to thank the main organizers of the event, especially FRA, project partners and others participants of the round table discussion and study visit for the opportunity to participate in these professional events within the project. The project is funded by EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation.