Support to countries and cooperation with other organisations

• Pages: 43-56

EASO Asylum Report 2020

43

Section 3. Support to countries and cooperation

with other organisations

In its nine years of operation, EASO has actively contributed to the implementation of the Common

European Asylum System (CEAS) by fostering practical cooperation among E U+ countries,

facilitating the sharing of information and expertise, providing evidenc e-based input to inform

policy-making, providing operational and technical support to EU Member States experiencing

pressure on their asylum and reception systems, and providing assistance to and promoting

cooperation with third countries. This section offers a summary of the multiple ways in which EASO

cultivates a harmonised approach across Europe to address international protection needs.

Under Regulation EU No 439/2010, EASO was established in 2010 as a centre of expertise on asylum,

contributing to the implementation of CEAS. To this end, EASO plays a key role in:

Managing the exchange of information and best practices;

Ensuring transparency and convergence in the assessment of protection needs;

Monitoring developments;

Building capacity in countries and developing material to train and develop experts; and

Providing operational and technical assistance to Member States where asylum and reception

systems are under particular pressure.

The proposed regulation for the EU Asylum Agency aims to strengthen and expand the mandate of

the agency in providing technical and operational support t o EU+ countries. Within its new role, the

agency would further:

Play an active role in promoting practical cooperation and information exchange among EU+

countries;

Monitor the operational and technical application of CEAS;

Promote operational standards on asylum procedures, reception conditions and protection

needs;

Foster harmonisation in the assessment of applications for international protection across EU+

countries;

Play an important role in developing and providing training to members of its own staff, members

of national administrations, courts, tribunals and national services responsible for asylum matters

in Member States;

Provide analysis of the situation in countries of origin and develop guidance notes; and

Providing technical and operational support to EU+ countries facing disproportionate pressure on

their asylum systems.

As part of the CE AS reform, the Europ ean Commission presented a proposal on 6 April

2016 for a new regulation to transform the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) into

a fully-fledged agency, the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA).