Subject-matter and scope
1. This Regulation establishes a European Union Agency for Asylum (the ‘Agency’). The Agency shall replace and succeed the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), established by Regulation (EU) No 439/2010.
2. The Agency shall contribute to ensuring the efficient and uniform application of Union law on asylum in the Member States in a manner that fully respects fundamental rights. The Agency shall facilitate and support the activities of the Member States in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), including by enabling convergence in the assessment of applications for international protection across the Union and by coordinating and strengthening practical cooperation and information exchange.
The Agency shall improve the functioning of the CEAS, including through the monitoring mechanism referred to in Article 14 and by providing operational and technical assistance to Member States, in particular where their asylum and reception systems are under disproportionate pressure.
3. The Agency shall be a centre of expertise by virtue of its independence, the scientific and technical quality of the assistance it provides and the information it collects and disseminates, the transparency of its operating procedures and methods, its diligence in performing the tasks assigned to it, and the information technology support needed to fulfil its mandate.
Tasks
1. For the purposes of Article 1, the Agency shall perform the following tasks:
(a)
facilitate, coordinate and strengthen practical cooperation and information exchange among Member States on their asylum and reception systems;
(b)
gather and analyse information of a qualitative and quantitative nature on the situation of asylum and on the implementation of the CEAS;
(c)
support Member States when carrying out their tasks and obligations in the framework of the CEAS;
(d)
assist Member States as regards training and, where appropriate, provide training to Member States’ experts from all national administrations, courts and tribunals, and national authorities responsible for asylum matters, including through the development of a European asylum curriculum;
(e)
draw up and regularly update reports and other documents providing information on the situation in relevant third countries, including countries of origin, at Union level;
(f)
set up and coordinate European networks on third-country information;
(g)
organise activities and coordinate efforts among Member States to develop common analysis on the situation in countries of origin and guidance notes;
(h)
provide information and analysis on third countries regarding the concept of safe country of origin and the concept of safe third country (the ‘safe country concepts’);
(i)
provide effective operational and technical assistance to Member States, in particular when their asylum and reception systems are subject to disproportionate pressure;
(j)
provide adequate support to Member States in carrying out their tasks and obligations under Regulation (EU) No 604/2013;
(k)
assist with the relocation or transfer of applicants for or beneficiaries of international protection within the Union;
(l)
set up and deploy asylum support teams;
(m)
set up an asylum reserve pool in accordance with Article 19(6) (the ‘asylum reserve pool’);
(n)
acquire and deploy the necessary technical equipment for asylum support teams and deploy experts from the asylum reserve pool;
(o)
develop operational standards, indicators, guidelines and best practices in regard to the implementation of Union law on asylum;
(p)
deploy liaison officers to Member States;
(q)
monitor the operational and technical application of the CEAS with a view to assisting Member States to enhance the efficiency of their asylum and reception systems;
(r)
support Member States in their cooperation with third countries in matters related to the external dimension of the CEAS, including through the deployment of liaison officers to third countries;
(s)
assist Member States with their actions on resettlement.
2. The Agency shall, on its own initiative, engage in communication activities in the fields within its mandate. It shall provide the public with accurate and comprehensive information about its activities. The Agency shall not engage in communication activities that are detrimental to the tasks referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Communication activities shall be carried out without prejudice to Article 65 and in accordance with the relevant communication and dissemination plans adopted by the Management Board.
National contact points for communication
Each Member State shall appoint at least one national contact point for communication with the Agency on matters relating to the tasks referred to in Article 2.
