"The Agency for Fundamental Rights is a step in the right direction, but today’s threats to human rights in Europe demand stronger mechanisms": it was stated yesterday afternoon by Amnesty International from Vienna, on the opening of the new EU Agency. Despite its high-flown name in the opinion of Amnesty the Agency is a wasted opportunity. The reluctance of the member states to address internal problems regarding human rights, which has come to the fore in all its glaringness during the debate on the Agency’s goals, resulted in a minimum mandate that is in deep conflict with the serious proportions and the nature of the violations of human rights within the European Union". Amnesty International hopes it will help the Agency in the area of racism and discrimination, but is deeply sorry that the Agency cannot take action in other important spheres, such as the fight against terrorism, the police’s behaviour in Europe, asylum and migration, fair trials, violence against women, the trade of human beings. Therefore, Amnesty International asks the European Union to join forces with the Council of Europe to create a "European system of human rights".
