FRA’s strategic priorities for the next five years have been set out in its recently published Strategic Plan 2023-2028.

In the first part, the Strategic Plan assesses a number of megatrends that seem most relevant to fundamental rights. Some of these major trends are:

• Challenges to justice and the rise of a security-based agenda;
• Threats to democratic values;
• Inequality and increased discrimination;
• Changing patterns of migration;
• Economic and social trends;
• Digital transformation and artificial intelligence;
• Climate change.

For each category, the strategy sets out three different scenarios (maintenance of status quo, growth, decline), looks at their plausibility, and describes their impact on fundamental rights in the coming years.

The second part of the agency’s plan sets out its strategic priorities for the years 2023-2028. The three key priorities for this period include:

1. Upholding fundamental rights standards in the development of new EU laws and policies;
2. Ensuring respect, protection, and fulfilment of fundamental rights in the fields covered by existing EU laws and policies;
3. Carrying out cross-cutting actions to support the realisation of the EU’s fundamental rights goals and vision.

To achieve the first priority, the agency will continue to provide information, data, and analyses in order to assist policymakers and provide information on EU laws and policies. The aim is to support decision-makers with independent advice and opinions, helping them advance policies that fully respect fundamental rights and are effective in protecting and fulfilling fundamental rights. In addition, FRA plans to carry out research and foresight studies on fundamental rights issues and future challenges in order to help EU institutions and Member States anticipate fundamental rights threats and promote fundamental rights resilience.

With regard to the second priority, the agency will support implementation of EU laws with advice, opinions, research, and real-time assistance to EU institutions, Member States, and other stakeholders. It will also contribute to the integration of the fundamental rights perspective in relevant laws and policies at the EU and national levels as well as the implementation of practical measures to address fundamental rights risks and challenges that may arise.

Looking at the third priority, cross-cutting actions to support the realisation of the EU’s fundamental rights goals and vision include the following:

• Awareness raising among rights holders and duty bearers;
• Development of research methods and tools on fundamental rights, including benchmarking, assessment, due diligence tools, and fundamental rights indicators;
• Collaboration with partners, fundamental rights actors, and multipliers in strengthening regional, national, and local fundamental rights protection systems;
• Promotion of dialogue with and among key actors in order to respond to fundamental rights challenges and shape agendas with a view to enhancing collaboration and building a common vision for the future.

Lastly, FRA emphasised that it will review and possibly update its priorities halfway through the term of the strategy to react to emerging needs.