Handbook for the informal CODEV meeting

22 June - 23 June 2017

Malta

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1. Practical Information

1.1 Contacts ……………………………………………………………………………………………3

1.2 Country Overview ………………………………………………………………………………3

1.3 Weather and climate ………………………………………………………………………….4

1.4 Currency……………………………………………………………………………………………4

1.5 Country Code…………………………………………………………………………………….4

1.6 VISA…………………………………………………………………………………………………4

1.7 Venue……………………………………………………………………………………………….4

1.8 Emergency Numbers………………………………………………………………………….5

1.9 Airport Pick-up…………………………………………………………………………………..6

1.10 Public Transport…………………………………………………………………………………6

1.11 Dress Code………………………………………………………………………………………..6

1.12 Driving………………………………………………………………………………………………6

1.13 Contacts……………………………………………………………………………………………7

2. Indicative programme with timings………………………………………………………..8

3. List of participants……………………………………………………………………………………10

4. Places to visit when in Malta……………………………………………………………………11

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1. Practical Information

1.1 Contacts

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malta

Palazzo Parisio

Merchant Street, Valletta VLT 1171

CODEV Presidency Team:

Ritienne Bonavia ritienne.bonavia@gov.mt +32 491 32 47 45

Charmaine Kerr charmaine.kerr@gov.mt +32 472 07 71 56

Tiziana Caruana tiziana.a.caruana@gov.mt +32 473 78 71 18

Alexei Stephen Jones alexei-stephen.jones@gov.mt

Jonas Hoier Frederiksen jonas-hoier.frederiksen@gov.mt

1.2 Country Overview

Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the

world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.

The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of

Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants over an area of 316km2 and a coastline of 196.8km (not including 56.01 km for the island of Gozo).

Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture

while Comino is largely uninhabited.

With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing

history, there is a great deal to see and do. With a little help from any guidebook, captivating places of interest are immediately identified – the world famous Hypogeum selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO, prehistoric temples and grand palaces are but a few.

The long relationship between the Islanders and the various nationalities that occupied Malta over the centuries has created a marriage of styles and traditions, giving the Islands a fascinating eclectic

culture.

Malta acquired its Independence in 1964, became a Republic in 1974 and joined the European

Union in 2004.

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1.3 Weather and climate

The climate is a Mediterranean one. Winters in Malta are short, mild and windy; and even though

with infrequent rain, the air is quite humid. Summers are long, hot, dry and very sunny. June is a

hot, dry and sunny month in Malta, although it’s not quite as hot as July and August, when major

heat waves are a strong possibility. Temperature in June, the average temperature for the island is

around 21°C -25°C with a UV index of 8.

1.4 Currency

The currency in Malta is the Euro.

1.5 Country Code

For outgoing international calls to Malta, the country code is +356.

1.6 Visa

No VISA is required.

1.7 Venue

The working sessions on the first day will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana.

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The working session on the second day will be held at the EASO premises.

1.8 Emergency numbers

Emergency

112

Ambulance

196

Police

+356 2122 1111/4001/4007

Mater Dei Hospital

+356 2545 0000

Passport Office: Malta

+356 2122 2286

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1.9 Airport Pick-up

Taxi services between the Malta International Airport and any destination in Malta are available 24

hours a day. Pre-paid tickets can be purchased at fixed rates from a booth in the Welcomers’ Hall.

Below are some fare examples as an indication of how much it costs to take a taxi from Malta

International Airport to several destinations on the Island, on a per vehicle basis.

Destination Fares*

Valletta EUR 17 Sliema EUR 20 St Julian’s EUR 20

Mdina EUR 21

*All fares are inclusive of an administrative fee.

More information on: https://www.maltairport.com/passenger/getting-here/taxi-service/

Some other taxi service options:

http://ecabs.com.mt/ (00356 21 38 38 38)

http://www.maltataxionline.com/ (00356 99 97 77 61)

http://hicabs.com.mt/ (00356 21 37 21 37)

1.10 Public Transport

Kindly see prices, planning and more information on: https://www.publictransport.com.mt/mt/

1.11 Dress Code

The dress code for meetings and working sessions is informal and for the cultural programme is

casual. It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes during the cultural programme and

make sure you always carry a bottle of water with you.

1.12 Driving

In Malta and Gozo, driving is on the left. There are speed limits of 80 km/h on the open road and

50 km/h in built-up areas, unless otherwise indicated on relevant road signs.

If you intend to rent a car or drive in Malta, it is advisable to take out comprehensive insurance.

National or international driving licences are accepted.

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In Malta and Gozo, driving is on the left. There are speed limits of 80 km/h on the open road and

50 km/h in built-up areas, unless otherwise indicated on relevant road signs.

If you intend to rent a car or drive in Malta, it is advisable to take out comprehensive insurance.

National or international driving licences are accepted.

1.13 Contacts

For further information, kindly contact us on: infomail@eu2017.mt or +356 2540 2700.

Visit Malta is a valuable source of information about the Maltese Islands run by the Malta Tourism

Authority. For further details, kindly visit http://www.visitmalta.com/. The Malta Tourism Authority

also runs an information desk at the Arrivals Hall in Malta International Airport. Contact Details are

as follows:

Address: Malta Tourism Authority – Tourist Office 28, Melita Street, Valletta

Email: info@visitmalta.com

Website: http://www.mta.com.mt

Tel: +356 2122 0193

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2. Indicative programme with timings

22 - 23 June

Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana

Thursday 22 June 2017

09:00 Registration and welcome coffee

09:30 – 09:40 Welcome and Introduction by CODEV Chair and DG Development

The introduction by Ritienne Bonavia, CODEV Chair followed by a brief

welcome by Neville Aquilina, Director-General Global Issues, International

Development and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Promotion.

09.45 – 11:15 The new European Consensus on Development – Walk the Talk What next? How to ensure its effective implementation?

The aim of this informal discussion is to start thinking on the next steps on

how to effectively implement the European Consensus on Development

together.

This will be a brain storming session involving all the major stakeholders

including EP (Mr. Norbert Neuser MEP), EIB (Ms. Clare Denvir), a

representative from a think tank (ECDPM: Geert Laporte) and a

representative from an NGO (Plan International: Tanya Cox). The idea is

to hear each of the representatives on how we can all work together to

implement what we have signed up to in the Consensus.

11:15 – 11:30

Break

Coffee break and family photo

11.30-13.00

WALK the TALK: Group work (parallel sessions)

Parallel group working sessions with a rapporteur per group will ensure to

address the attached set of questions.

13:00 – 14:30 Lunch Break (at the Grand Hotel Excelsior)

14:30 – 16:00 Ensuring that no-one is left behind: the case of people in

vulnerable situations and marginalised groups

How to effectively ensure non-discrimination and that no one is left behind

in our development policies. A particular focus will be on people with

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disabilities and LGBTI persons. A note with a set of questions to orientate

the debate is hereby attached.

Representatives from:

SE, NL, IE will share their national perspectives concerning LGBTI

and development

DE, UK will share their national perspectives concerning people

with disabilities and development

17:00 – 19:00 Cultural Activity: Walking tour of Valletta

Walking tour of Valletta including a visit to St. John Co-Cathedral. Spouses

are welcome to join the walking tour and dinner. Meeting point Grand

Hotel Excelsior.

20:00 - 20:20 Departure from Grand Hotel Excelsior to Fort St. Angelo

20:30 Tour of Fort St. Angelo and dinner

22:30 Transport back to Grand Hotel Excelsior

Friday 23 June 2017

09:30 Transport from Grand Hotel Excelsior to EASO

10.00 - 10.15 Welcome coffee and introduction

Introduction by the CODEV Chair and by Jose Carrera, Executive Director,

EASO

10.15 - 12:45

EASO – Operational support and external dimension of migration

External dimension of migration – third country support and

resettlement

External dimension activities, including training and capacity

building with targeted Third Countries.

12:45 - 14:00 Closing remarks and lunch

14:00 Transport back to the Grand Hotel Excelsior

End of Programme

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The new European Consensus on Development: EC4D – What’s next?

Time: 11:30 – 13:00

Format: CODEV group will be divided into four working groups and each group will address

one of the following four themes. Each group will need to nominate one rapporteur who

would then report back to the whole group.

Working Session Questions

Group 1 - Priorities of the EU Consensus

In the Consensus, we use the phrase “WE WILL” 346 times but:

1. How will we take forward the commitments in the Consensus? What are the areas

of focus or priorities where the EU has a comparative advantage and where it can make a real difference? Please bear in mind the actions and trends of other developed countries and BRICS.

Group 2 - Reaching the most marginalised to ensure that no one is left behind

1. How can the EU reach out to marginalised people and put the furthest behind first? 2. What key issues does the EU needs to address to ensure social inclusion and that

no one is left behind?

Group 3 - Sustainable Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

1. In what sectors, will Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships be essential? 2. What should such partnerships look like? 3. How to ensure that these partnerships are sustainable?

Group 4 - Sustainable Funding

1. How can we ensure that the future budget is in line with Agenda 2030 and the

European Consensus on development? 2. What EFIs do we need to be able to implement the European Consensus on

development in a comprehensive and effective manner?

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Ensuring that No one is left behind: the case of vulnerable groups and people in

marginalised situations

Working session 14:30 - 16:00

Para 16 of EC4D

16. The EU and its Member States will implement a rights-based approach to development cooperation, encompassing all human rights. They will promote inclusion and participation, non-

discrimination, equality and equity, transparency and accountability. The EU and its Member States will continue to play a key role in ensuring that no-one is left behind, wherever people live and regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, disability, religion or beliefs, sexual orientation and gender

identity, migration status or other factors. This approach includes addressing the multiple discriminations faced by vulnerable people and marginalised groups.

Para 30 of EC4D

30. In line with the principle of leaving no-one behind, the EU and its Member States will give special attention to those who are in disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised situations, including

children, older persons, persons with disabilities, LGBTI persons and indigenous peoples. This will include measures to better target, protect and support them so as to offer them the same opportunities and ensure non-discrimination.

How to target people in marginalised situations in our development cooperation activities (policies and projects) in a manner which targets their specific vulnerabilities and challenges?

In the context of EU and MS political and human rights dialogue with partner countries: how to promote non-discrimination and access to equal rights in the most effective and impactful manner?

How to best involve people in marginalised situations and people belonging to vulnerable groups and organisations that represent them in our development policies and programmes?

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3. List of Participants

The Maltese Presidency team

(Brussels-based)

Ms Ritienne Bonavia

Ms Charmaine Kerr

Ms Tiziana Caruana

Mr Alexei Stephen Jones Mr Jonas-Hoier Frederiksen

Development team Malta Ms Alexandra Galea Ms Laura Camilleri

Ms Thea Busuttil CODEV Delegates

Mr Arvo Anton (EE)

Mr Dirk Brems (BE)

Mr Gonçalo Marques (PT)

Mr Jakob Muehlstein (AT)

Mr Jamil Claude (LU)

Mr Jorgen Pedersen (DK)

Mr Thomas Tichelmann (IE)

Mr Valdas Verbus (LT)

Ms Afroditi Iconomou (EL)

Ms Aili Ribulis (EE)

Ms Aneta Kedziora (PL)

Ms Biljana Žilić (HR)

Ms Carmen Hagenaars (NL)

Ms David Lloyd-Davies (UK)

Ms Dorothee Starck (DE)

Ms Eva Kordova (CZ)

Ms Helena Vodusek (SI)

Ms Jenny Lennung Malmqvist (SE)

Ms Kaisa Heikkilä (FI)

Ms Katalin Freier (HU)

Ms Maria Matthaiou (CY)

Ms Maria Victoria Wulff Barreiro (ES)

Ms Marianne Barkan-Cowdy (FR)

Ms Oana Matei (RO)

Ms Sintija Rupja (LV)

General Council Secretariat

Mr Yves-Marie Leonet

Commission Mr Carlos Berrozpe-Garcia Mr Maxence Daublain

EEAS

Ms Linn Olsson

Ms Marie-Laure De Bergh

European Parliament

Mr Norbert Neuser

EIB

Ms Clare Denvir

Guest Speakers

Ms Tanya Cox (Plan International) Mr Geert Laporte (ECDPM) Ms Meritxell Sayos Monras (ECDPM)

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4. Places to visit when in Malta

Valletta

Valletta, Malta’s capital and a World Heritage site,

is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living

experience of Baroque architecture, a monument

donated by the Knights of St John nearly five

centuries ago. Throughout the years, Valletta has

welcomed emperors, heads of state, artists and

poets and is now the permanent seat of the Maltese

government.

Dotted with quaint cafés and wine bars, the city is

today one of Malta’s main tourist attractions,

hosting among others, the majestic St John’s Co-

Cathedral, including two Caravaggio paintings, the

imposing bastions and a treasure of priceless paintings.

It also provides a stunning snapshot of Malta’s Grand Harbour, often described as the most beautiful

in the Mediterranean.

The city’s unique setting nowadays plays host to a series of cultural events, from theatre in English,

to concerts by leading opera singers.

A hive of business activity during the day, the city switches to a slower gear for the night. Use it to

your advantage to get away from the noise and take a stroll to admire the magic of the fortified

capital amplified by the gentle lighting. Admire the bastion walls, the dense clusters of worn

limestone buildings, the timber balconies, and imposing Churches.

Mdina and Rabat

The history of Mdina traces back more than

4000 years. According to tradition it was here

that in 60 A.D. that the Apostle St. Paul is

said to have lived after being shipwrecked on

the Islands. Furthermore it is said that St. Paul

resided inside the grotto know as Fuori le Mura

(outside the city walls) now known as St. Paul's

Grotto in Rabat. Lamp lit by night and referred

to as "the silent city", Mdina is fascinating to

visit for its timeless atmosphere as well as its

cultural and religious treasures.

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Mdina has had different names and titles depending on its rulers and its role but its medieval name

describe it best – ’Città Notabile': the noble city. It was home then, as now, to Malta's noble

families; some are descendants of the Norman, Sicilian and Spanish overlords who made Mdina their

home from the 12th century onwards. Impressive palaces line its narrow, shady streets. Mdina is

one of Europe's finest examples of an ancient walled city and extraordinary in its mix of medieval

and baroque architecture.

Like nearby Mdina, Rabat played a major role in Malta's past and is a prime source of its cultural

heritage. This large provincial township was part of the Roman city of Melita, with the sites and

archaeological relics found testifying to the town's importance during the Roman period.

For many centuries, religious orders have established themselves within the precincts of Rabat and

Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians

still flourish here in their spacious convents

and monasteries, catering for the religious

needs of parishioners in their churches.

The town is a commercial centre and acts as

a market to its large agricultural hinterland.

It is also well established on the tourist map

due to its archaeological and historical

sites: The Roman Villa (Domus Romana),

catacombs, St. Paul's Grotto and the fine

churches and monasteries.

Gozo

Gozo is known to provide a tranquil haven for a

tempo and scene change. The charm of Malta's

sister Island is immediately apparent; it's greener,

more rural and smaller, with life's rhythms

dictated by the seasons, fishing and agriculture.

Steeped in myth, Gozo is thought to be the

legendary Calypso's isle of Homer's Odyssey - a

peaceful, mystical backwater. Baroque churches

and old stone farmhouses dot the

countryside. Gozo's rugged landscape and

spectacular coastline await exploration with some

of the Mediterranean's best dive sites. The island also comes complete with historical sites, forts

and amazing panoramas, as well as one of the archipelago's best-preserved prehistoric temples,

Ġgantija.

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Gozo also possesses a nightlife and cultural calendar, all of its own, with some great dining out.

Comino

Situated between Malta and Gozo, the smaller island of Comino is a paradise for snorkelers, divers,

windsurfers and ramblers.

Only 3.5km2, Comino is car free and apart from one hotel, is virtually uninhabited.

The island's main attraction is the Blue Lagoon. In

summer, this sheltered inlet of shimmering

aquamarine water over white sand is very popular

with day-trippers.

Comino is also worth a visit in winter, and is ideal

for walkers and photographers. With no urban

areas or cars on the island, one can easily smell the

scent of wild thyme and other herbs. Comino was

inhabited in the Roman period, but did

not have much significance until the Knights

arrived. It then had a dual role: hunting grounds

and a staging post in the defence of the Maltese Islands against the Ottoman Turks.

The island had proved a useful base for pirates operating in the central Mediterranean and, though

stark and barren today, it was home to wild boar and hares when the Knights arrived in 1530. The

Grandmasters went to great lengths to ensure that their game on Comino was protected: anyone

found breaking the embargo on hunting could expect to serve three years rowing on a galley.

After World War II, Comino remained a backwater until its fortunes revived with tourism in the mid-

1960s.

Where to Stay: Comino has one resort hotel, which is ideal for those looking for a tranquil getaway.

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Towns and Villages

There are places in which to live it up

and others where it seems like time

stood still. In Malta you can enjoy life at

its simplest one day and at its most

cosmopolitan the next. However short

your stay, it's possible to have a taste

of island life in a variety of settings -

from traditional villages to urban

resorts.

Malta's capital, the World Heritage City

of Valletta, and the medieval fortified

towns of Mdina and Ċittadella in Gozo,

are the Islands' historical highlights.

Tas-Sliema, Buġibba, Qawra and St.

Julian's in Malta and Marsalforn and Xlendi in Gozo are the main resorts. They bustle with activity,

and not just in summer. Valletta is a treasure-house of art and architecture. This city of the Knights

remains virtually intact with its streets flanked by palaces and tiny old-world shops.

Across the Grand Harbour lie the Three Cities of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa. Older than

Valletta, they offer a fascinating insight into the

islands' maritime fortunes. Città Vittoriosa or

Birgu is one of the oldest cities on the Island, and

it played an important role in the Siege of Malta

in 1565. Birgu was once a main city and has a

long history of military and maritime activities.

Birgu’s position in the Grand harbour was of

great importance and several military leaders

wanted to take over the city. Therefore, the

Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans Byzantines, Arabs,

Normans and the Aragonese all shaped and

developed Birgu. Yet, no one did more for the

city than the Knights of St. John, who arrived to Malta in 1530 and made Birgu the capital of Malta.

Birgu is a unique city surrounded by fortified walls, ancient history, monuments and places that one

can visit. The entrance to Birgu is via the Couvre Porte, while the parish church is dedicated to St.

Lawrence, whose feast is celebrated annually on the 10th of August. Brass bands clubs, processions

and fireworks are among the attractions in such festivities.

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The southern fishing village of Marsaxlokk and

neighbouring resort town of Marsascala are also

worth a visit. With little effort, just a desire to

explore, you'll find inland towns and villages with

character and treasures of their own. Churches

reveal masterpieces by the artists to the Knights

while each village square is a slice of history, its

café-bar the hub of authentic rural life.

Sources:

www.visitmalta.com

www.mcc.com.mt www.malta.com www.visitgozo.com

European Asylum Support Office

SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION

European Asylum Support Office

Our mission:

As an important actor of European solidarity, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) plays a key role in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), fostering greater cooperation with and between Member States and providing the necessary support in order to translate into practice the core values of the CEAS, equity and fairness, and to ensure that individual asylum cases are dealt with in a coherent way by all Member States.

EASO is an agency of the European Union set up by Regulation (EU) 439/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The agency:

• provides operational support to Member States with specific needs and to Member States whose asylum and reception systems are under particular pressure;

• contributes to the implementation of the EU relocation programme;

• acts as a centre of expertise on asylum;

• contributes to the development of the CEAS by facilitating, coordinating and strengthening practical cooperation among Member States on the many aspects of asylum;

• helps Member States fulfil their European and international obligations to give protection to people in need;

• provides practical and technical support to Member States and the European Commission;

• provides evidence‑based input for EU policymaking and legislation in all areas having a direct or indirect impact on asylum.

Support is our mission

EASO’s tasks

In order to achieve its goals, EASO’s tasks include:• providing country of origin information (COI) on key countries,

relevant for the asylum decision‑makers in the field of asylum;

• providing the latest asylum trends data as well as in‑depth asylum data, an outlook with an analysis of asylum trends and push–pull factors, plus risk scenarios;

• developing and providing training in order to support the enhancement of quality and harmonisation in the area of asylum;

• contributing to the new ‘Hotspot’ approach;

• coordinating the relocation measures agreed at EU level;

• providing operational support by deploying EU+ countries’ experts in the form of asylum support teams (ASTs) or by providing other support as required;

• developing the use of operational tools including manuals, informational and practical tools, reporting templates and feedback system.

About us

1

EASO’s focus points

EASO’s focus points consist of:

Permanent support

supporting and stimulating the common quality of the asylum process through common training, common asylum training material, common quality and common COI;

Special and emergency support

organising solidarity for Member States subject to particular pressures by providing temporary support and assistance to repair or rebuild asylum and reception systems, including tailor‑made assistance, capacity building, specific support and special quality control tools;

Information and analysis support

sharing and merging information and data, analyses and assessments at EU level, including EU‑wide trend analyses and assessments;

Support to the hotspots

coordinating all activities under the EASO ‘Hotspot’ operating plans, initiating, promoting and facilitating the synchronised efforts of Member States to support the registration, relocation and further processing of applications for international protection in the operational host Member States;

Third‑country (i.e. non‑member country) support

supporting the external dimension of the CEAS, supporting partnerships with third countries to reach common solutions, including by capacity building and regional protection programmes, and coordinating Member States’ actions on resettlement.

Cooperation with EU agencies

EASO works closely with other EU agencies, in particular with other EU agencies in the area of Justice and Home Affairs. Moreover, EASO signed working arrangements with Frontex on 26 September 2012, with the Fundamental Rights Agency on 11 June 2013 and with eu‑LISA on 4 November 2014. Since 2016, EASO also has a liaison officer at Frontex.

Cooperation with UNHCR

Cooperation between EASO and UNHCR covers various areas like training, quality processes, trends and analysis, unaccompanied minors, resettlement, operational support, communications and third‑country support. EASO signed a working arrangement with UNHCR on 13 December 2013.

2

Discover the quick facts about our impactOver 16 000 participants in EASO’s training modules

Over 8 000 participants in EASO’s meetings

Over 9 000 COI documents available on the common COI portal

Over 1 000 deployed experts

Supported the Relocation of thousands from Italy and Greece

Interviewed and registered thousands of asylum seekers in the Hotspots

Headquarters: Valetta, Malta

Staff: over 150

Main tasks: supporting Member States whose asylum systems are under particular pressure and assisting Member States in the implementation of the CEAS

Budget for 2017: EUR 69 million

Find more in‑depth information in our annual reports on our website:https://www.easo.europa.eu/about‑us/what‑we‑do/work‑programmes‑and‑annual‑activity‑reports

EASO operational support in Italy

Our impact

Since 2011, EASO has been a key actor in the EU’s efforts committed to implementing the CEAS.

Basic facts about EASO

3

Latest asylum trends

EASO has set up the early warning and preparedness system (EPS), a data‑collection mechanism that aims to collect information on all key aspects of the CEAS in as real time as possible. Currently the EPS covers all stages of the asylum process (with the exception of appeal), including first instance determination, access to procedure, reception, return and Dublin.

The aim of this data collection is to supply information and analysis to all relevant stakeholders in regular and tailored ad hoc analytical products in order to provide an up‑to‑date situational picture on asylum in the EU+ and support Member States’ preparedness.

EASO’s analytical products merge statistical data contributed by all 30 EU+ countries with qualitative information. Such qualitative information includes insight into national asylum systems and changes in national legislation and policies that may impact on asylum migration decisions (made accessible to Member States via the information and documentation system) as well as push and enable factors prevalent in countries of origin and transit.

EASO has also set up a multiannual research programme, in cooperation with civil society and academia, to better understand the push–pull factors of asylum‑related migration as well as to develop forward‑looking scenarios for asylum inflows to EU+ countries.

EASO produces

reports relevant for

the decision‑makers in

the field of asylum

Country of origin information

COI refers to information on the countries that asylum seekers originate from and which is relevant for decision‑makers in the field of asylum. The quality and accuracy of COI can thus play a determining role in achieving the aim of the CEAS whereby similar cases should receive similar outcomes across the EU.

In the field of COI, EASO:

• gathers targeted, relevant, reliable, accurate and up‑to‑date COI in a transparent and impartial manner according to a published methodology;

• establishes specialist COI networks composed of national COI experts on key countries of origin at EU level (currently 10 such networks exist);

• drafts, via a network approach in cooperation with Member States COI experts, joint COI reports;

• organises country‑specific practical cooperation workshops inviting experts from the region;

• manages and further develops the publicly accessible EASO COI Portal which provides a common entry point to EU‑produced COI and offers additional resources for Member States and other stakeholders.

Early warning and preparedness system

4

EASO training

EASO training

EASO provides training and develops training materials in support of the promotion of quality and harmonisation in the area of asylum, as such contributing to the implementation of the CEAS. The cornerstone of EASO training activities is the EASO training curriculum, a common vocational training system designed mainly for case officers and other asylum officials throughout the EU. The curriculum covers the entire field of international protection by means of interactive modules. A blended learning methodology, combining e‑learning and face‑to‑face sessions, provides for both a theoretical and a practical approach to training. The EASO training curriculum is implemented according to a train‑the‑trainer methodology to support the development of skills, knowledge and competencies of trainers, who upon completion of a training module are able to train personnel in national administrations, creating a multiplier effect.

The EASO training modules counted over 16 000 participants in the EU+ and beyond between 2012 and 2016.

EASO cooperation with courts and tribunals

EASO provides two‑fold support to members of courts and tribunals. In cooperation with courts and tribunals, including judicial training institutions, judicial associations and other relevant actors, EASO is working towards creating a professional development series aimed at providing courts and tribunal members with a full overview of the CEAS. In addition, EASO also organises professional development workshops, which provide an opportunity for members of courts and tribunals to deepen their knowledge of European asylum law and, ultimately, to transfer this information to colleagues in the respective Member States. EASO also provides tailored support to the judiciary in Member States under particular pressure as well as ad hoc support in response to requests received from courts and tribunals.

EASO training and quality

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EASO supports asylum processes

In accordance with its overall aim of supporting Member States in achieving common standards within the CEAS, EASO organises practical cooperation activities focusing on the implementation of the main elements of the CEAS. Such activities can be organised within the framework of thematic networks facilitated by EASO such as, for example, the network of Dublin units or of reception authorities.

As part of these activities, the mapping of Member States’ current practices and policies plays a key role as it lays the ground for the organisation of thematic meetings and the production of reports, as well as the development of practical tools of guidance documents. These are designed to support the daily work of case officers, border guards, reception officers and other relevant target groups. Moreover, the mapping contributes to the collection of information with regards to the implementation of the different instruments of the CEAS in the national context, thus forming a baseline for quality management activities in Member States.

EASO supports unaccompanied minors

EASO activities on vulnerable groups

EASO provides support and develops practical cooperation among Member States and other relevant experts on issues relating to vulnerable applicants, including children, victims of trafficking, persons subjected to torture and other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence, persons at risk because of their gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, and persons with special needs. EASO mainstreams aspects related to vulnerable groups in all EASO activities, supports policy coherence in this field, develops tools designed to support Member States in the implementation of the CEAS within the context of vulnerable applicants and organises expert meetings on topics related to vulnerable groups.

More details: https://www.easo.europa.eu/training‑quality

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How does EASO support the Hotspots?

EASO concludes operating plans with the host Member State. These plans aim at initiating, promoting and facilitating the synchronised efforts of Member States to support the registration and further processing of applications for international protection in the operational host Member States, where activities of EASO Asylum Support Teams will take place.

Although supported by EASO, the host Member States authorities remain responsible for all asylum‑related operational activities in the defined operational areas, including registration of applications for international protection, examination and decision taken in the asylum files.

EASO ensures the coordination between the participating experts in the ASTs and the technical means deployed by the agency in the framework of the EASO Hotspot operating plan.

The participating Member States will support the EASO Hotspot operating plan’s objectives and activities by deploying, coordinating and supporting their experts to the defined locations.

For more information on EASO’s Hotspot operating plans, please visit: https://www.easo.europa.eu/archive‑of‑operations

EASO support in the hotspots

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EASO supports Member States that are faced with specific and disproportionate pressures with activities related to relocation of international protection applicants within the EU. Currently, EASO is supporting Italy and Greece with the implementation of the EU relocation scheme in line with the European Agenda on Migration. EASO has a number of activities and responsibilities in the relocation process and provides specific support to facilitate the implementation of the relocation programme by:

• deploying and coordinating special support teams and asylum support teams (ASTs), composed of Member States experts, to Italy and Greece;

• facilitating direct cooperation and exchange of information between national contact points of the Member States of relocation and Italy and Greece — monitoring of the overall relocation process;

• developing tools in support of specific steps in the relocation procedure and particularly in the information provision and the vulnerability assessment;

• implementing a relocation communication package, including information leaflets in non‑EU languages, a mobile app and relocation videos.

EASO and Relocation

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EASO has been supporting Italy with the provision of technical and operational assistance since 2013.

Operational support to Italy in the context of hotspots and relocation was launched mid‑September 2015.

EASO experts in Italy provide operational support in the following three main areas.

• Provision of relevant information to potential applicants for relocation of eligible nationalities. Those activities are conducted in all operational hotspots in Italy.

• Moreover, EASO mobile teams for information provision are deployed in Rome and Catania to swiftly cover relevant locations and points of disembarkation.

• Handling registrations of applicants for international protection, in view of the relocation procedure, in a number of regional hubs and by a roving team.

• Handling outgoing Dublin take‑charge requests for relocation cases. Those activities are conducted in the Dublin Unit in Rome.

EASO’s expert providing

relevant information to potential

applicants for relocation

EASO activities in Italy

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EASO has been supporting Greece, with the deployment of EASO ASTs to assist with the asylum procedures, since 2011.

Since 2015, EASO provides support to Greece, in the context of hotspot and relocation, by performing a number of tasks:

• identifying potential applicants for international protection and providing active information about the international protection system in Greece and the relocation procedure in general; in addition, giving advice on nationality assessment and possible exclusion issues to caseworkers registering relocation candidates;

• processing outgoing Dublin take‑charge requests, including relocation cases;

• detecting possible document fraud.

Besides EASO’s work on relocation, EASO teams in the hotspots work on the operational implementation of the EU–Turkey Statement. Since March 2016, EASO has been supporting the Greek Asylum Service with regard to the Greek eligibility and admissibility procedures. To this end, EASO has deployed experts who conduct interviews to ensure systematic individual assessment of the admissibility of each application for international protection in Greece.

EASO’s deployed experts providing support in Greece

EASO activities in Greece

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EASO has an important role to play in the external dimension of the CEAS, by strengthening asylum and reception capacity in third countries in order to better protect asylum seekers, in the cooperation with third countries in matters connected with EASO’s mandate and activities, and in facilitating the resettlement of refugees from third countries to the EU.

EASO’s work on the external dimension of the CEAS is being implemented in the framework of the EASO External Action Strategy adopted by the Management Board of EASO in November 2013. All this is done in close cooperation with the European Commission within the framework of the EU external relations policy, including the European Agenda on Migration and the Valletta Summit action plan. Other partners and stakeholders in our work are EU delegations, partner third countries and Member States, as well as Frontex, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Support in the external dimension is given both bilaterally and through regional programmes. The geographical focus is at present the Western Balkans region, Turkey and North Africa.

Activities include capacity building, advice, training, provision of seminars/workshops, operationalisation of practical tools, study visits, technical assistance and on‑the‑job training, etc.

Valletta Summit follow‑up

To follow up on the Valletta Summit action plan of November 2015, EASO supports third countries by, in particular, providing training and improving the quality of the asylum process in countries of origin, transit and destination.

More details: https://www.easo.europa.eu/external‑dimension

EASO and the external dimension of the CEAS

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EASO and resettlement

EASO aims at strengthening the EU role in the area of resettlement with a view to meeting the international protection needs of refugees in third countries and showing solidarity with their host countries. EASO facilitates the resettlement by Member States of refugees from third countries to the EU in cooperation with UNHCR and IOM. EASO further develops existing methodologies and tools to strengthen Member States’ ability to resettle refugees and contribute to the evaluation and further development of the joint EU resettlement programme.

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EASO’s Management Board

The Executive Director:

Executive Director José Carreira was appointed by the Management Board in 2016 and is in charge of the day‑to‑day management of the agency.

The Executive Director is independent in the performance of their tasks and is the legal representative of EASO. The Executive Director is responsible for the implementation of the work programme and the decisions of the Management Board. The Executive Director is supported by three departments, namely:

• Department of Asylum Support;

• Department of Operations;

• Department of Administration.

There are several units under each department.

The Management Board is the agency’s planning and monitoring authority. It is composed of representatives of the Member States and associate countries, the European Commission and a representative of UNHCR.

The consultative forum was established in 2011 to strengthen dialogue and pooling of knowledge between EASO and civil society. It is open to relevant civil society organisations and competent bodies (such as international organisations, academia and the judiciary) operating in the field of asylum policy at local, regional, national, European or international level.

EASO practical cooperation is a concept applied to expert meetings, conferences and networks organised by EASO. EASO’s practical cooperation activities follow a common methodology and are intended to improve and maximise convergence on approaches to and assessment of the protection needs of asylum seekers as well as other practical aspects of the CEAS.

The administrative and management structure

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EASO’s organizational chart Management Board

Executive Director

DOPDept. of Operations

Info. and Analysis Unit

Operations Unit

Planning and Evaluation Unit

DOADept. of Administration

Human Resources Unit

ICT Unit

Finance and Procurement Unit

General Affairs Unit

DASDept. of Asylum Support

Training Unit

Asylum Support Unit

Communications and Stakeholders Unit

Executive support

Liaison officers Frontex and EU institutions

(Brussels)

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Focus on civil society: EASO consultative forum

EASO Consultative Forum – authentic

dialogue matters for EASO

The EASO consultative forum has been established to strengthen dialogue and pooling of knowledge between EASO and relevant civil society operating in the field of asylum policy at local, regional, national, European or international level. Civil society can offer great and diversified expertise in the field of asylum and reception, which can be synergetic to the work of EASO.

EASO continuously engages with actors from civil society in its core business, inviting experts and representatives to attend thematic meetings and seminars and to contribute to the development of tools and materials as well as exploring ways for an increased involvement of civil society in EASO’s operational activities.

EASO has strengthened its feedback system by developing more sound responsiveness towards organisations responding

to the consultations, by providing information bilaterally and multilaterally to civil society organisations approaching EASO and by being alert and receptive to search, analyse and take into account information and inputs provided by civil society with a view to identify opportunities to build practical cooperation.

In addition to the plenary meeting of the EASO consultative forum, ad hoc and thematic meetings targeting civil society are organised in order to encourage the use of participatory methodology. The structure and working methods of the EASO consultative forum are subject to revision under the new proposal of regulation.

For more information on the EASO consultative forum, please contact Consultative‑Forum@easo.europa.eu

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EASO’s history

The Tampere European Council of 1999 agreed on the establishment of CEAS. The EU 2004 Hague programme

proposed the establishment of EASO. The office was conceived to play a crucial role in ensuring practical

cooperation between Member States on matters related to asylum.

In the first quarter of 2010, the European Parliament and the Council agreed on the creation of EASO. The EASO

regulation came into force on 19 June 2010.

On 1 April 2011, the first EASO operating plan was signed to support the reconstruction of the Greek asylum system.

On 19 June 2011, EASO was officially inaugurated in Malta.

In 2012, Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden requested and obtained EASO’s support.

In 2014, Cyprus requested and obtained EASO’s support.

In 2016, the European Commission proposed a draft regulation for a European Union Asylum Agency.

The European Commission proposed the creation of EASO on 18 February 2009.

On 7 September 2012, EASO moved into its new premises located in the Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta.

In 2013, Bulgaria requested and obtained EASO’s support.

In 2015, EASO played a central role in the implementation of the EU agenda on migration and the new Hotspot approach.

On 1 February 2011, EASO became operational as an EU agency.

On 24 May 2011, the Seat Agreement between the Government of Malta and EASO was signed. The agreement governs the relationship between the host Member State and EASO.

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In 2016 the European Commission launched a package of legislative

proposals to reform the CEAS, intended to be an institutional answer to the migratory

wave that Europe has had to face, taking into account that in 2015 almost 1.4 million

applications for international protection were made in the EU+ — the highest number

since the beginning of EU‑level data collection began in 2008.

One of these legislative proposals refers to

establishing a European Union Asylum Agency

The European Commission proposed to transform the existing EASO into a fully fledged European

Union agency for asylum with an enhanced mandate and considerably expanded tasks to address any structural weaknesses that arise

in the application of the EU’s asylum system.

The reform of the CEAS, as proposed by the European Commission, would establish a fully efficient, fair and humane asylum policy which

would function effectively both in times of normal migratory pressure and in times of high migratory pressure. This reform is also meant to ensure a fair allocation of asylum applications among Member States and to provide for a common set of rules at EU level to simplify and shorten the asylum procedure, discourage secondary movements

and increase the prospect of integration.

In focus: what’s next for EASO?

EASO uses a wide range of communication channels, including our multilingual website, social media like Facebook and Twitter, conferences and workshops.

WebsiteOur website is an excellent source of information on migration‑related issues: https://www.easo.europa.eu/

Monthly newsletterOur free monthly email newsletter keeps you up to date with all the latest developments, news and upcoming events: https://www.easo.europa.eu/newsletter

Social mediaFollow us on:

https://www.facebook.com/easo.eu

https://www.facebook.com/EU‑Relocation‑Programme‑1573986209595538/?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/easo

https://plus.google.com/104801283875740806865

https://www.linkedin.com/company/european‑asylum‑support‑office?trk=extra_biz_viewers_viewed

https://www.youtube.com/user/EASOChannel

PublicationsEASO’s publications can be downloaded free of charge from our website. Browse our publications here: https://www.easo.europa.eu/news‑events/featured‑publications

Communications and Stakeholders UnitFor any enquiry, please send an email to info@easo.europa.eu or call +356 22487500 The latest press releases can be found at: https://www.easo.europa.eu/news‑events/press‑releases

How to find out more about EASO

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