National human rights institutions (NHRIs) in EU Member States in many cases lack sufficient capacity to fully engage in the fundamental rights protection mechanisms provided by the EU law. When addressing situations with a human rights aspect, systematic and structured application of the EU law is absent. The EU law remains a tool used by NHRIs only sparely, including the specific mechanisms that the EU has created for this purpose. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on the capacity building needs for the proper application of EU fundamental rights law, with special focus on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Implementation of the project consists of three key work packages. The project seeks to:
- Enhance the use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights by NHRIs and strengthen their role in its enforcement at the national level, including by building the capacity of NHRI staff in using EU fundamental rights law in their work;
- Strengthen NHRIs’ capacity to monitor fundamental rights and the rule of law, by increasing their engagement with relevant EU mechanisms and by promoting national dialogues on fundamental rights and the rule of law;
- Develop the capacity of NHRIs to monitor fundamental rights compliance in the implementation of EU funds, as foreseen by newly applicable EU law.