The meeting was convened with a view to discussing on the EU’s Internal Security Strategy, which is due to be reviewed and updated by mid-2015, and follow the recent publication of the European Commission’s Agenda on Security. The Agenda emphasises the importance of fundamental rights, citing it as one of the five key principles on which all EU security measures should be based, and also mentions FRA’s role in assisting EU institutions in this endeavour.

FRA Communication and Outreach Department Head Friso Roscam Abbing pointed out to participants that for effective implementation, fundamental rights principles must be built into the design of new security measures, as well as in the assessment of existing policies.

As one of the greatest challenges the EU faces in the field of internal security is the need to develop an effective response to extremism and violent radicalisation, he also highlighted the importance of combating hate crime and the need to measure and promote migrant inclusion and participation, both areas in which FRA is currently working.