Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Michael O'Flaherty and EMCDDA Director Alexis Goosdeel are at the European Parliament today where they will present to the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) highlights and priorities of the outgoing and incoming chairmanships of the EU Justice and Home Affairs agencies’ network.
The EMCDDA took over the presidency from FRA on 1 January 2017 and will chair the network until 31 December, before handing over to the Vilnius‑based European Institute for Gender Equality in 2018. The theme chosen by the JHA network for 2017 will be the internet.
The nine JHA agencies (1) play key advisory, operational and coordination roles in implementing EU priorities in the areas of freedom, security and justice. They work together on a wide range of issues, including human trafficking, migration and border management, drug trafficking and combating organised crime.
The first coordination meeting of the network — bringing together its members and observer members (European Commission and European External Action Service) — kicks off today in Lisbon (9–10 February). Among the issues on the agenda will be joint activities on: implementing migration, asylum and border management and internal security; training; internet and new technology; information exchange, ICT and cybersecurity: external relations; communication and engagement with European Commission-funded research.
During the LIBE meeting, Alexis Goosdeel will present the new EMCDDA Strategy 2025 — adopted in December 2016 by the Management Board — as well as the programming of the agency's work for 2017–19. Michael O'Flaherty will also present FRA’s priorities for the coming year.
