Strasbourg, 18/06/2012

Own-initiative inquiry OI/5/2012/BEH-MHZ concerning implementation by Frontex of its fundamental rights obligations

Dear Mr Kjærum,

On 6 March 2012, I decided to open the above own-initiative inquiry and asked Frontex to submit an opinion on a number of specific questions.

On 29 May 2012, I received Frontex's opinion.

In view of the interest that this inquiry has aroused on the part of members of civil society, I have come to the conclusion that it would be both appropriate and useful to make Frontex's opinion available on my website and to invite interested parties to submit observations. I have also decided to bring Frontex's opinion to the attention of the national ombudsmen who are members of the European Network of Ombudsmen.

In view of the subject-matter of my inquiry and the specialised mandate of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, I have decided to forward Frontex's opinion to you.

I should like to invite you to submit any comments on Frontex's opinion you may wish to make. I would appreciate it if your comments, if any, would reach my office by 30 September 2012.

Should your services require any further information concerning this own-initiative inquiry, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Marta Hirsch-Ziembinska (+33 388 17 27 46) or Mr Bernhard Hofstötter (+33 388 17 81 05), the legal officers responsible for this case.

Please find enclosed a copy of Frontex's opinion and my opening letter to Frontex.

Yours sincerely,

P. Nikiforos Diamandouros

Enclosures:

• Copy of opening letter dated 6 March 2012
• Copy of Frontex's opinion dated 17 May 2012