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European Asylum Support Office
Bureau Européen d’Appui pour l’Asile ISSN: 1977-4818
European Asylum Support Office
Newsletter — November/December 2012
EDITORIAL
Welcome to the November/December edition of the European
Asylum Support Office (EASO) newsletter. As you will note
from the content of this newsletter, EASO activities are on the
increase. In this edition we look into various topics, including
the EASO delegation visit to Greece (see page 2), MEP van de
Camp, MEP Wikström, Dutch Minister Leers and Greek
Minister Dendias visits to EASO, the meeting of the EASO
Consultative Forum, the 9th
EASO Management Board meeting,
EASO's Conference on Afghanistan, EASO's Quality Initiative,
and much more. As to EASO training, besides our usual update
on EASO training activities, this month we are introducing the
new module on Interviewing Techniques. Since this is the last
edition of the EASO newsletter for this year, I would like to
thank you for following EASO activities in 2012 and wish you all
a happy Christmas and all the best for 2013. We will be back
with the EASO newsletter as from January.
Jean-Pierre Schembri
Newsletter Editor
EASO Spokesperson
CONTENTS
• Editorial and in the news - page 1
• EASO's delegation visit to Greece - page 2
• Dutch Minister Leers visit to EASO - page 2
• EASO conference on Resettlement - page 3
• MEP van de Camp and MEP Wikström visits to EASO - page 3
• EASO training - page 4
• EASO Conference on Afghanistan – page 5
• EASO training related activities - page 5
• 9th
EASO Management Board Meeting - page 6
• The EASO Consultative Forum - page 6
• EASO in pictures - page 7
• EASO notices (including vacancies) - page 8
IN THE NEWS: LIBE committee discusses EASO's
annual report and work programme for 2013
On 6 November, EASO's Executive Director, presented
the 2011 EASO annual report on the situation of asylum
in the EU and on the activities of EASO and the 2013
EASO work programme to the members of the European
Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and
Home Affairs (LIBE).
During his presentation Dr Visser explained the main
activities of EASO during this period and what EASO aims
to achieve in the future. He said that the 3 main pillars
of EASO support were permanent support, special
support, and emergency support. Also important was
EASO's support in the area of Early warning, Here EASO is
setting up its own Early warning and Preparedness
System (EPS) with the aim of detecting situations likely to
give rise to particular asylum pressures. In this context,
EASO provides asylum trend analysis and risk scenarios.
Early warning is essential in order to have a good
assessment of the asylum situation in Member States
and identify possible deficiencies in good time. Also
important was the external dimension. However, due to
budget limitations, EASO has had to limit its activities in
this field. Watch the full discussion by clicking on the
following link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-
live/en/committees/video?event=20121106-0900-
COMMITTEE-LIBE
SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION
IN THE NEWS: Greek Minster Dendias visits EASO
On 15 November 2012 Minister Nikolaos Dendias, Greek Minister
for Public Order and Citizen Protection visited the headquarters of
the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Malta where he
held a meeting with EASO's Executive Director.
Minister Dendias's visit underlines the importance of EASO's work
in Greece.
The meeting followed a visit by an EASO delegation to Greece,
earlier this week, during which an amendment to the EASO-
Greece Operating Plan was signed. This plan supports the new
First Reception Service, the Asylum Service, and the Appeals
Authority. It also provides support to the backlog clearance
procedure which is currently underway.
Read more on EASO's delegation visit to Greece on page 2
2
Dutch Minister Leers visits
EASO
Above: Minister Leers (third from right) together with the
Dutch government delegation at the EASO Premises
On 29 October, Dr Gerd Leers, Dutch Minister for
Immigration, Integration and Asylum Affairs
visited EASO in Malta and met EASO Executive
Director to discuss the work of EASO and the
situation of asylum in the EU.
The meeting was held at the Headquarters of the
European Asylum Support Office, in Malta.
Following the meeting Dr Visser commented that
'this was a very fruitful meeting which further
strengthens the good cooperation between EASO
and the Dutch Government. During the meeting
we discussed the work of EASO and how EASO
can be of service to the EU and its Member
States. We also discussed current issues in the
area of asylum including the development of the
Common European Asylum System, which the
European Union is committed to achieve by the
end of this year, EASO's support to Greece where
I reiterated EASO's appreciation of the Dutch
Government contribution to this project'.
Minister Leers held that he was 'very pleased with
the contribution and the support of EASO to the
member states. The Dutch government sees the
positive effects of the work of EASO. EASO is
essential in solving the challenges in for example
Greece and especially in the implementation of
the Greek Action Plan. The Dutch government
supports a number of EASO’s activities, for
example Early Warning, and is looking forward to
further progress in 2013.'
EASO delegation visits Greece- EASO to give additional support to Greece to
reduce the backlog of asylum appeals cases.
Greece has faced particular asylum pressures in
the past years due to a significant influx of
irregular migrants at the European external
borders. Following a request made by the Greek
Government, in February 2011, EASO agreed to
support Greece and to deploy Asylum Support
Teams (ASTs) to Greece.
Since the beginning of its operations in Greece in
2011, EASO has deployed over 40 ASTs to support
Greece with building up a new asylum system, in
particular by supporting the Greek government in
setting-up the: First Reception Service; Asylum
Service; Appeals Authority; and improving
reception conditions. In the framework of the
Operating Plan, EASO and Greek authorities have
managed to:
- establish a training plan for staff of the new
services, which is being implemented. A number
of trainers trained in the European Asylum
Curriculum modules, who belong to the new
services, are training staff who have joined more
recently;
- plan for the transition of DubliNet and Eurodac
database to the new services;
- develop guidelines on age assessment,
vulnerable categories and a strategy on the
increase of reception and accommodation
facilities.
On 13 November 2012 an EASO delegation,
headed by the Executive Director of EASO, visited
Greece to discuss the state of play regarding
EASO support to Greece and progress made by
the Greek authorities in the area of asylum and
reception.
During the visit, the EASO Executive Director held
a meeting with Minister Nikoloas Dendias, Greek
Minister for Public Order and Citizen Protection
where EASO continued support to Greece and the
additional support aimed at reducing the backlog
of asylum appeals claims was discussed. During
the meeting Minister Dendias and Dr. Visser
signed an amendment to the EASO-Greece
Operating Plan.
In Athens, the EASO delegation also met with EU
Member States Ambassadors and visited the First
Reception Centre, Asylum Service and Appeals
Authority and the Appeals Committees.
3
MEP van de Camp and MEP
Wikstrom visit EASO
Dr Visser and Hon. Van de Camp
On 16 November Mr Wim van de CAMP, Member
of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil
Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) visited
the head office of the European Asylum Support
Office (EASO) in Malta, and held a meeting with
EASO's Executive Director to discuss EASO's role
vis-à-vis the development of the Common
European Asylum System. Other topics such as
EASO support to Greece, and the Early warning
and Preparedness system (currently being
developed by EASO) were also discussed during
the meeting.
Dr Visser and Hon. Wikström
On 25 November, Ms Cecilia Wikström, Member
of the European Parliament's LIBE committee also
visited EASO and held a meeting with EASO's
Executive Director. The main item on the agenda
was EASO's role vis-à-vis the development of the
Common European Asylum System. Ms Wikström
also participated, as a speaker, in the EASO
Consultative Forum (see page 6)
These visits followed Dr Visser's presentation, of
the 2011 EASO Annual Report on the situation of
asylum in the EU and the activities of EASO and
the 2013 EASO work programme, at the LIBE
committee on 6 November 2012.
First EU Resettlement Seminar
Resettlement is one of the key measures for
internal and external solidarity. According to
EASO Work Programme 2012, one of the
responsibilities of EASO is to provide a structure
for exchanging information and to set-up
cooperation activities among EU Member States,
but also with third countries, UNHCR, IOM, other
international organisations and NGO’s concerned.
The first seminar of EU Resettlement Policy took
place on 22-23 October 2012. The meeting
focused on the national resettlement schemes
state of play, EU funding available for
resettlement and solidarity support seen from the
social society perspective. This meeting brought
together EU resettlement specialists and policy
practitioners, for the first time under the
coordination of EASO.
On the first day, speakers explained the latest
developments in terms of national resettlement
policies and EU funding available. EASO
addressed the EU Member States solidarity
support in view of setting up common EU
resettlement goals. On the second day,
participants discussed the further developing of
the EU Resettlement Network and agreed to
promote resettlement cooperation in Europe,
also by using www.resettlement.eu as a
cooperation tool in information sharing, multi
stakeholder meetings and exchange of good
practices, through outreach, training, study visits,
research and piloting of new methods.
A wrap-up plenary session concluded on the main
findings and discussed on possible future actions
to be followed. It was agreed that EU Member
States should further support each other in
resettlement planning, coordination and
implementation of resettlement activities
through the exchange of good practices and
cooperation in developing new or sustainable
programmes. EASO will support emergency
resettlement and convene a coordination
meeting with EU Member States and UNHCR in
early autumn each year, in order to identify the
resettlement needs in Europe and support the
Member States to make annual commitments
and provide for complementarity of the intakes,
in the light of the available EU funding in the field.
4
EASO will be also updating up to seven modules in
2013 and this information can be shared with you
through your respective National Contact Point
(NCP). EASO is now in the final phase of
completing the Platform transfer, in this regard
please be informed that the EAC platform will not
be working between midnight of 12th
December
2012 until 16th
January 2013.
Get to know EAC Learning path and EAC Modules
–The New Module on Interview Techniques
The European Asylum Curriculum (EAC) currently
features three interview techniques modules;
- Interview Techniques
- Interviewing Vulnerable Persons
- Interviewing Children
Since March 2012, EASO has worked with a
knowledgeable and experienced team of Member
States’ experts on a comprehensive review of the
Interview Techniques module. The review aims at
enhancing the module, one of the first EAC
developments, by taking advantage of the
expertise acquired since its development and
ensuring consistency and coherency within EASO's
training package on interview techniques. From
19 to 21 November, the team will hold its last
meeting to review the draft, which will be finalised
upon consultation with a reference group that
includes ECRE, UNHCR the Commission and the
IARLJ.
The module will cover theoretical aspects and
relevant legislation from a very practical
perspective; promote the use of a structured
interview method and provide participants with
good practical examples, including some tips to
tackle difficult interview situations and tools to
enhance the quality of asylum interviews.
EASO remains grateful for the enthusiasm and
commitment of the team, which continues its hard
work to develop a common approach on this key
aspect of the asylum procedure.
We look forward to sharing this new EAC
experience with you and encourage you to
register for the first training on this module in
March 2013.
EASO Training
Recent Developments
The face to face sessions on the European
Asylum Curriculum (EAC) modules Asylum
Procedures Directive and Dublin Regulation
were organised successfully by EASO in Malta
during the beginning of this month. EASO has
for the first time engaged in a pilot initiative,
whereby a trainer from UNHCR has co-
facilitated the train the trainer module on the
Asylum Procedures Directive. Participants
came from several European administrations
including, Estonia, Germany, Luxembourg,
Malta, Poland, Romania Slovenia and
Switzerland.
During this month, EASO will be organizing the
last train-the-trainer modules for this year on
Country of Origin Information and Interview
Techniques. In the meantime, EASO is currently
updating both modules and the new versions
will be available as from next year. During this
month, EASO will also initiate the process of
updating the International Refugee Law &
Human Rights module.
By the end of this month EASO will be also
organizing a kick off meeting on the Common
European Asylum System (CEAS) module. The
content group has been formed and will be
working simultaneously with the Reference
Group. The first train the trainer module on
the CEAS is scheduled for November 2013.
Following feedback received from the last NCP
meeting, EASO will be soon launching its
official EASO Trainer courses in EAC modules
for 2013. This will be made publicly available
through our website
(http://www.easo.europa.eu/) so that you can
consider this schedule when planning your
training activities for 2013.
5
EASO Conference on
Afghanistan
Afghans continue to constitute one of the most
significant caseloads of asylum seekers in the
European Union, and consequently have a
considerable impact on the asylum procedures in
many Member States. This is widely reflected in
the focus on Afghanistan in the production and
use of Country of Origin Information (COI) in all its
aspects. But the impact of the Afghan caseload
goes far beyond the COI scope; it also touches
upon policies and practices. In this context, on 8
/9 November 2012 EASO organised a conference
on Afghanistan: Country of Origin Information
and Beyond. The conference featured
presentations by key experts on Afghanistan,
break out sessions on a wide range of topics as
well as discussions on how to keep on developing
methodologies and tools to refine the
involvement of all those concerned by the Afghan
caseload. Besides Member States' experts, the
conference was also attended by judges,
academics and NGOs specialising on Afghanistan.
EASO Annual Didactic
Seminar
The EASO didactic seminar was held on 23-24
October 2012. 42 participants from different
Member States attended this meeting. Based on a
need assessment conducted some months ago,
EASO has identified four areas of interest which
called for further development by our didactic
experts. In this regard EASO, with the help of
experts organized four different workshops on: E-
learning and E-coaching, Learning and
Motivation, Presentation and Communication
Skills, and Learning and Creativity. Didactic
experts had the opportunity to actively
participate in these training sessions through
several interactive workshops.
EAC Annual National
Contact Point Meeting
The EASO NCP meeting was held on 25-26
October 2012. 28 participants from different
Member States, a representative from the
European Commission and UNHCR attended this
meeting. The NCPs were presented with the new
version of Terms of Reference for EASO Training
and Expert Pool. The second part of this meeting
focused on the EASO Training Cockpit.
EASO Quality Initiative
On 8th
and 9th
November, EASO held its first
Meeting on Quality with the participation of
Member States, the European Commission and
UNHCR. The main purpose of the event was to
introduce EASO’s current approach towards
quality. While it is clear that ‘quality’ is a label of
all activities EASO implements, the particular
theme of the meeting was the quality mapping
exercise.
This exercise would encompass a review of
quality-related initiatives and projects in EU
Member States since 2004, particular quality
mechanisms in place, as well as a mapping of the
ways in which the asylum system functions in its
everyday practice. The process would be
undertaken in phases and comprehensively cover
all aspects of the Common European Asylum
System (CEAS) over a period of time. The overall
purpose is compiling knowledge about the
current state of implementation of the CEAS. This
knowledge would inform EASO’s priorities and
strategy in providing support to Member States
where it is most needed. Moreover, it will be the
basis for identification of good practices which
Member States could share with each other in the
process of implementing a high quality CEAS. In
the future such qualitative data could be used in
the context of the Early warning and
Preparedness System (EPS) currently being
developed by EASO and in relation to the recast
of the Dublin Regulation.
The meeting succeeded in creating a forum for
participants to exchange valuable expertise
regarding quality initiatives and mechanisms and
to take active part in shaping EASO’s approach
towards quality.
In the immediate follow-up of the meeting, all
Member States will be actively involved in
consultations on the proposed approach and
methodology. The results of the meeting and the
feedback from Member States would determine
the concrete parameters of this quality mapping
exercise and, respectively, the topics of the
thematic meetings on quality to be hosted by
EASO in 2013.
6
EASO Consultative Forum
EASO held its second Consultative Forum plenary
meeting on 25/26 November 2012 at the
Excelsior Hotel, Valletta, Malta. The plenary
meeting has become a major event in the EASO
calendar of activities attracting around hundred
participants most of whom are NGOs working in
the field of asylum.
Various notable actors in the field of asylum and
migration addressed the Forum this year,
including the Member of the European
Parliament Ms Cecilia Wikstrom and Ms. Cathryn
Costello from the University of Oxford. During
this meeting, EASO presented the Consultative
Forum Operational Plan, describes the framework
within which the Forum shall operate. Moreover,
participants had the opportunity to discuss key
EASO products and services during breakout
sessions, such as the EASO Annual Report, EASO
Annual Work Programme 2014, EASO Training,
Quality and Unaccompanied minors, and the
EASO Early warning and Preparedness System.
EASO also presented a draft calendar of
consultation activities during 2013, which was
well received by participants. Civil society
organisations expressed their willingness to
engage more closely with EASO and to provide
relevant expertise. EASO welcomed suggestions
and proposals made by civil society both on
content and process and vouched to take them
into consideration to the extent possible in its
work during 2013.
EASO's Executive Director stated that the
Consultative Forum is not just an annual meeting,
but rather a continuous two way dialogue. The
aim of consultation is to ensure that interested
parties are given the opportunity to be heard and
to contribute to EASO's work. I see consultation
with civil society as a win-win situation when
carried out in full respect of mutual obligations
and responsibilities. That is why EASO has
proposed to consult civil society in a more
structured and comprehensive manner during
2013.
Organisations interested in being consulted by
EASO can register on www.easo.europa.eu
9th EASO Management
Board Meeting
On 22-23 November 2012, EASO held its 9th
management board meeting in Malta. The
management board is composed of
representatives of the EU Member States, the
European Commission, and the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Norway and Switzerland also attended the
meeting.
EASO Executive Director addressing members of the
Management Board during their visit to the EASO head
quarters.
Participants discussed the asylum situation inside
and outside the EU, giving particular attention to
the asylum situation in Greece and the EASO
activities to support the Greek asylum system. In
addition, the Asylum Intervention Pool and the
asylum support teams were evaluated following
the experience gathered from the deployment of
those support teams to Greece (2011-2012) and
Luxembourg (2012).
Furthermore, the Management Board discussed
the development and implementation of the Early
warning and Preparedness System in the field of
asylum.
Moreover, a second EASO COI report on
Afghanistan was presented to the Management
Board. Additionally, while in Malta, the members
of the Management Board had the opportunity to
visit the premises of the EASO head quarters and
meet with EASO staff.
7
Top: EASO's delegation in Greece during a meeting with
Greek counterparts Bottom: Dr Visser and Minster
Dendias signing an amendment to the Operating Plan.
On 22 November EASO and UNHCR singed a grant
agreement by which they will provide additional
support to Greece aimed at reducing the backlog of
asylum appeals claims.
Participants at he EASO meeting on Quality, 8/9
November 2012, Malta. More information on page 5.
On 8 /9 November 2012 EASO organised a conference
on Afghanistan: Country of Origin Information and
Beyond.
On 25 – 26 October 2012, a meeting of the JHA Council
was held in Luxembourg. On 25 October, during a lunch
debate, Ministers had an informal discussion on intra-
EU relocation of beneficiaries of international
protection from Malta (EUREMA). During this
discussion, EASO's Executive Director presented the
main findings of the EASO fact finding report on
EUREMA. Picture: Council of the European Union.
On 12/13 November, the Working Party (WP) on the
Country of Origin Information Portal (COI Portal) met
at the French Asylum office (OFPRA) in Fontenay-sous-
Bois (France). The WP is planning the training of
National COI Portal Administrators who will be
responsible for running national access of Member
States to the central COI Portal, including the
connections of national COI databases to the Portal and
supervision of the Portal's national upload area. The
COI Portal is foreseen to be the main point of entry for
end users to COI and is crucial to the effective
implementation of a CEAS.
EASO in Pictures
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EASO Vacancies EASO has recently published the following vacancies:
Temporary Agents
Reference Number Title Closing Date
EASO/2012/020 Program Coordination Officer (AD7) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/021 Project Officer (AD6) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/024 Information and Analyst Coordinator
(AD7) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/027 Didactic and E.Learning Expert (AD7) 19 December 2012
Contract Agents
Reference Number Title Closing Date
EASO/2012/022 Project Support Officer (FGIV) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/023 Deployment Officer (FGIII) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/025 IT Portal Maintenance and
Development Officer (FGIV) 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/026 Data Collection and Processing Officer
(FGIV) 19 December 2012
Seconded National Experts
Reference Number Title Closing Date
EASO/2012/SNE/002 Field Officer 19 December 2012
EASO/2012/SNE/004 COI Expert on Western Balkans 19 December 2012
More information can be obtained by clicking on: www.easo.europa.eu and click on working
with EASO.
EASO newsletter
Subscribe by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
Learn more about EASO, please visit: www.easo.europa.eu
© European Asylum Support Office, 2012.
Neither EASO nor any person acting on its behalf may
be held responsible for the use which may be made of
the information contained therein.
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is
acknowledged.