HOME AFFAIRS : COMMISSION PROPOSES EUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE.

The European Commission proposed, on 18 February, to establish a European asylum support office with the objective of improving the coordination of asylum policies in the EU.

According to statistics presented by Vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for freedom, security and justice, asylum decisions differ widely from one member state to the next: "Twenty-five percent of positive decisions are taken by Austria, Belgium, Sweden and Italy, while the respective figure is less than 3% in Slovakia, Greece and Slovenia. The support office will make it possible to harmonise these figures: the countries lagging on asylum will catch up with those having a better record".

The new agency will not have any decision making authority, as stipulated by the European Pact on Asylum and Immigration, adopted by the 27 member states on 16 October 2008. Its role will be limited to support activities in three priority areas: practical cooperation between the member states, support for member states subject to particular pressure from asylum seekers (including Malta and Cyprus) and contributions to implementation of a common asylum system for the EU.

The office will also cooperate closely with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, "which will be fully involved in the work of the office in view of the expertise possessed by these external stakeholders in the field of asylum," states the proposal for a regulation.

A staff of 94 people will gradually be recruited between 2010 and 2013. The office will be headed by a management board composed of representatives of the member states and the Commission, and by an executive committee.

Their tasks will include exchange of best practice, legislative support, operational support to member states whose asylum systems are under strong pressure and support for intra-Community...

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