Director of Communication and Awareness Raising
European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Friso Roscam Abbing is a Dutch national, who achieved his Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Law at the University of Amsterdam. He is currently Director of Communication and Awareness Raising at the European Union’s Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) (as of July 2009), which is based in Vienna. Previously he was a Member of the Cabinet of the European Commission’s Vice-Presi- dent Jacques Barrot (Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security), where he was
responsible for refugee policy, fundamental rights and citizenship issues. From 2004- 2008 he was Spokesperson of European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini (Commissioner responsible for Justice Freedom and Security issues, 2004 - 2008).
Friso has a strong background in refugee policy issues, both from an intergovernmental and a non- governmental perspective. He was head of the EU Asylum Policies sector at the European Commission’s DG Justice, Freedom and Security (2000-2004). Before that he was Director of the EU Office European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE- an international network of 70 national non-governmental organizations from 30 European countries active in the refugee field) (1994-2000). He started off his career as Head of the Legal Department of the Dutch Refugee Council (1996-1994).