European Union Agency
for Asylum
The proposal to turn the existing European Asylum Support Office into a fully-fledged EU Agency, named the European Union Agency for Asylum, aims at strengthening the mandate of the Agency, which will have an extended role in providing technical and operational assistance to EU+ countries. The enhanced mandate would include an active role in promoting practical cooperation and information exchange among EU+ countries; monitoring of the operational and technical application of the CEAS; promoting operational standards regarding asylum procedures, reception conditions and protection needs; working toward ensuring convergence in the assessment of applications for international protection across EU+ countries by providing analysis of the situation in applicants’ countries of origin and developing guidance notes; and providing technical and operational support to EU+ countries facing disproportionate pressure on their asylum systems. The Council and the Parliament have reached a broad political agreement ad referendum on the regulation on the European Union Agency for Asylum, although the proposal has not been adopted, pending process on the remaining proposals of the CEAS package. In September 2018, the European Commission proposed amendments to its proposal on the EU Agency for Asylum, including an extension of the operational and technical assistance the agency can provide to EU+ countries. (15)