The Council presidency and European Parliament representatives have reached a mutual agreement on an EU asylum agency regulation that aims to improve the asylum policy application within the EU by changing the existing European Asylum Support Office (EASO) into a fully-fledged company.
The new agency will be accountable for enhancing the performance of the European asylum system by contributing to a better convergence in the assessment of applications for international purposes and by providing reinforced technical and operational assistance to the Member States, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“Today’s agreement is an important building block in our efforts to establish an efficient, fair and truly European asylum system. The EU asylum agency will provide tangible, practical support in the processing of asylum seekers to those member states in need. It will also harness the strength of our common approach to improve operational cooperation with third countries,” the Portuguese Minister for Home Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, said.
According to a press release issued by the Commission, the reinforced mandate of the new agency will continue to provide the following actions:
- More competent asylum systems: Through improved technical and operational support to the Member States, including training, preparation, analysis and exchange of information
- Improved support on request: 500 experts, including case handlers, interpreters, and reception specialists, will be ready to be positioned within the framework of asylum support teams following the request from the Member States
- Consistent and better-quality decision making: By establishing operational procedures, indicators, instructions and practices for the Union law on asylum implementation
- Building capacities in non-European countries: To ameliorate reception and asylum systems as well as support the Member States in resettling schemes and improving the existing cooperation with UN agencies
“The EUAA will be in a position to provide stronger operational and technical assistance to any Member State in managing challenges associated with asylum and reception, in line with the EU standards. Importantly, this will also lead to improved conditions for people in need of international protection,” EASO’s Executive Director Nina Gregori said, commenting on the agreement.
EASO previously revealed that only during the first two months of 2021, more than 10,000 citizens of Syria filed for international protection in EU countries, registering the highest figures for asylum from this country since 2016.
On the other hand, the same announced that applications lodged from Latin Americans dropped significantly since August 2020 due to fewer flight connections to the EU and increased movement towards the US.
Source: Schengenvisainfo News
