European Asylum Support Office
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 February 2011 |
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
| Headquarters | Valletta, Malta |
| Motto | Support is Our Mission |
| Agency executive |
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| Key document | |
| Website | easo |
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is an agency created by European Union Regulation 439/2010 to strengthen the cooperation of EU Member States on asylum, enhance the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, and support Member States under particular pressure.
In 2008, the European Commission proposed the creation of an asylum office such as EASO to boost cooperation between member states in managing asylum requests.
Malta's EU ministers for immigration in 2010 agreed for EASO to be based in Malta, following discussions surrounding the continuous immigration of illegal immigrants mostly from the Horn of Africa, who reach Europe after passing through Libya. On November 30 in Brussels, at the Justice and Home Affairs Council, Malta was official elected to host the organisation, winning out over candidates, Cyprus and Bulgaria.
The April 2015 Mediterranean Sea migrant shipwrecks led European leaders to reconsider their border control and migrant processing policies. On April 20, the European Commission proposed a 10-point plan that included EASO in the process of assisting asylum applicants and collecting information about smuggling operations.
In April 2016 the European Commission proposed to transform EASO into a European Union Agency for Asylum.
The EASO regulation came into force on 19 June 2010 and was fully operational on 1 February 2011.
The main aim of the EASO is to facilitate the improved protection for asylum seekers and coordination between member states.
In the case of a large intake of asylum seekers within a specific country, EASO can provide temporary support. An operation plan is drawn up describing the goals of the plan, duration, geographical area and team responsibility. This program provides expertise in asylum seeker policies allowing for a smoother transition between countries.
Following an unprecedented migrant influx, EASO in 2015 proposed a relocation programme that was agreed upon to support the ‘frontline’ Member States of Italy and Greece, whom were under considerable pressure.
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