The asylum is not just a Mediterranean issue but an issue in which all countries from the EU are involved. In order to find solutions to address it, the EASO (European Asylum Support Office) provides each year a report on the number and nature of applications for international protection in all 28 Member States plus Norway and Switzerland.

The report from 2014 has shown that las year, there were more than 660.000 applications, and the applicants came mainly from Syria, the Western Balkan countries and Eritrea. In reaction to these events, EASO has developed different strategies.

Its first mission is to support the countries that receive the demands of asylum. It provides operational support mainly to Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Cyprus. For instance, EASO has trained thousands of asylum and reception officials in 2014, contributing to harmonize the way of facing this issue. Moreover, it collects information coming from the origin countries to facilitate the judges to take a decision concerning the solicitants.

Furthermore, EASO launched new statistical data collection under its Early warning and Preparedness System (EPS), which improves the analysis and the information available.

Last May 2015, the Commission has outlined new directions for European asylum policy. Among these propositions, the more important ones were saving lives at sea, combatting smuggling networks and responding to high volumes of arrivals within the EU with relocation activities. EASO will play a key role and will be present in all of these measures.

Esperanza Revuelta

 

https://easo.europa.eu/