EASO Newsletter

Jamil Addou
EASO Executive Director a.i.

EDITORIAL

It has been a particularly busy and productive winter at the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The Agency has continued to steadfastly implement its Governance Action Plan, which was presented to, and endorsed by, the Management Board in September 2018. I am particularly pleased that, at its recent meeting on 18-19 February 2019, the Management Board recognised and the continued implementation by EASO in terms of strengthening its governance.

One of the more visible signs of the transformation taking part at EASO has been the ongoing recruitment drive. The Agency has had to increase its pace of recruitment in order to achieve the ambitious target of reaching a complement of 500 highly skilled experts by the end of 2020. With around 200 staff working for the Agency just a few months ago, I am happy that the results are already becoming evident through an increase in staff capacity to fulfil our ongoing support activities to Member States and partner organisations.

EASO NEWS

• EASO Management Board welcomes strengthening of Agency's good governance
• EASO Management Board selects new Executive Director and elects new Chairperson
• EU asylum figures 2018: applications return to 2014 levels, decreasing by 10% over previous year
• EASO steps up operational support for Cyprus

RECENT ACTIVITIES & DEVELOPMENTS

• Towards a European Sectoral Qualification Framework for Asylum and Reception Officials (ESQF)
• Professional development workshop for members of EU+ courts and tribunals on detention of applicants for international protection
• EASO has published a new Practical Guide on the best interests of the child in asylum procedures and a new EASO Guidance on reception conditions for unaccompanied children
• Exchange of experiences on EU Agencies Learning Management Systems and e-Learning practices
• EASO Annual Report in full-blown drafting mode

STORIES FROM THE HOTSPOTS

• When a little girl burst into the Bari Territorial Commission
• EASO support on the Sea Watch 3’s disembarkation

EASO IN THE PRESS

• Reuters: EU asylum applications fall to below half crisis peak, 13 February 2019
• Le Figaro: Les demandes d'asile retombées à leur niveau d'avant la crise en Europe, 14 February 2019

SOCIAL MEDIA

• EU #asylum figures 2018: - Overall applications continued to fall in 2018 - #Syria remained the top country of origin for applicants - Citizens from #Iran, #Turkey, and several visa-liberalised countries lodged more applications than in 2017 #EASOAsylumTrends #EASO

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