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1. Fundamental rights monitors, employed as statutory staff, shall constantly assess the fundamental rights compliance of operational activities, provide advice and assistance in that regard and contribute to the promotion of fundamental rights as part of European integrated border management.

2. Fundamental rights monitors shall have the following tasks:

(a) monitoring compliance with fundamental rights and providing advice and assistance on fundamental rights in the preparation, conduct and evaluation of the operational activities of the Agency which the fundamental rights officer has assigned to them to monitor;

(b) acting as forced-return monitors;

(c) contributing to the training activities of the Agency on fundamental rights as provided for in Article 62, including by providing training on fundamental rights. For the purposes of point (a) of the first subparagraph, fundamental rights monitors shall, in particular:

(a) follow the preparation of operational plans and report to the fundamental rights officer to enable him or her to fulfil his or her tasks as provided for in point(e) of Article 109(2);

(b) conduct visits, including long-term visits, where operational activities take place;

(c) cooperate and liaise with the coordinating officer as provided for in Article 44 and provide advice and assistance to him or her;

(d) inform the coordinating officer and report to the fundamental rights officer on any concerns related to possible violation of fundamental rights within the Agency's operational activities; and (e) contribute to the evaluation of activities as referred to in Article 47.

3. Without prejudice to paragraph 4, the fundamental rights officer shall assign at least one fundamental rights monitor to each operation. The fundamental rights officer may also decide to assign fundamental rights monitors to monitor any other operational activity he or she considers relevant. Fundamental rights monitors shall have access to all areas in which the operational activity of the Agency takes place and to all its documents relevant for the implementation of that activity.

4. Fundamental rights monitors may be nominated by the fundamental rights officer as forced-return monitors for the pool referred to in Article 51. Where fundamental rights monitors act as forced-return monitors, Article 50(5) and Article 51 shall apply, mutatis mutandis.

5. The fundamental rights officer shall appoint the fundamental rights monitors and they shall be under his or her hierarchical supervision. Fundamental rights monitors shall be independent in the performance of their duties. When present in an operational area, fundamental rights monitors shall wear insignia that clearly allow for their identification as fundamental rights monitors.

6. The Agency shall ensure that by 5 December 2020 at least 40 fundamental rights monitors are recruited by the Agency. The executive director shall assess on an annual basis whether the number of fundamental rights monitors needs to be increased in consultation with the fundamental rights officer. Following that assessment, the executive director shall, where necessary, propose an increase in the number of fundamental rights monitors to the management board for the following year depending on operational needs.

7. Following their recruitment, fundamental rights monitors shall undergo enhanced fundamental rights training, taking into account previously acquired qualifications and professional experience in the relevant areas. Throughout their employment, the Agency shall ensure that fundamental rights monitors discharge their duties in accordance with the highest standards. Adequate training maps shall be designed for each fundamental rights monitor to ensure their continuous professional development to enable them to fulfil their role as fundamental rights monitors.