Rights of the European Union? And what role do human rights institutions and civil society play in the planning, implementation and monitoring of funding? These are the questions addressed in the newly published report produced as part of the research project ‘ECHOFunds – Enhancing Charter Compliance of EU Funds’.

The report examines how the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is embedded as a condition for funding in the current funding period (2021–2027) and what influence it has on the use of EU funds. The project highlights the challenges and opportunities in three countries – Austria, Greece and Poland – and analyses how they deal with so-called Charter conditionality.

Key questions addressed in the report:

• How is the ‘cross-cutting fundamental requirement’ for the effective application and implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights being implemented in the current funding period?
• How are national human rights institutions, equality bodies and ombuds institutions involved in monitoring?
• How are partnerships organised in practice (e.g. in the monitoring committees)?

To find answers, comprehensive literature and desktop research was conducted and direct discussions were held with administrative authorities in Austria, Belgium, Greece, Ireland and Poland. Their perspectives offer valuable insights into the practical implementation of Charter conditionality and cooperation with various stakeholders.

The full report is available in the download area.