European Union: European Asylum Support Office (EASO)

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO), established on 19 May 2010, is an independent body [a Regulatory Agency] of the European Union (EU). The EASO plays a key role in the concrete further development of the Common European Asylum policy. In accordance with the Regulation by which it was established (Regulation 439/2010), the EASO, based in Malta, focuses on three main tasks:

1. developing of practical cooperation among EU Member States on asylum, by facilitating exchange of information on countries of origin, by providing EU States with support for translation and interpretation, training of asylum officials and assisting in the relocation of beneficiaries of international protection;
2. supporting EU Member States under particular pressure, in particular through the establishment of an early warning system, coordinating teams of experts to assist them in managing asylum applications and in putting in place appropriate reception facilities;
3. contributing to the implementation of the Common European Asylum System by collecting and exchanging information on best practices, drawing up an annual report on the asylum situation in the EU and adopting technical documents, such as guidelines and operating manuals, on the implementation of the EU's asylum instruments.