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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001597 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF SMIG EUN PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN ASYLUM SUPPORT OFFICE NEARING FINAL 
APPROVAL 
 
BRUSSELS 00001597  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY: The European Asylum Support Office (EASO), first 
envisioned in 2007, is nearing final approval.  The 
Commission had hoped to have the office established before 
the end of 2009, but disagreements over the office's location 
and the European Parliament's role in selecting the agency's 
head have pushed it into early 2010.  The Parliament and 
Council have now reconciled their differences, however, and 
the agency should be approved by both bodies in the next few 
months.  The creation of the EASO will give the U.S. 
Government an excellent focal point for asylum issues in the 
EU.  In addition, given how the responsibilities of such an 
agency can change over time in the EU bureaucracy, it is 
certainly possible the EASO will gain new powers over the 
years, and be the beginning of a more uniform EU asylum 
policy. END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  When the Commission asked in June 2007 for input on 
creating a European asylum office, it received 89 
contributions from various entities, including 20 member 
states, regional and local authorities, the Committee of the 
Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, UNHCR, 
academics, political parties and many non-governmental 
organizations.  These responses showed there is strong 
backing for both an asylum support office and better 
coordination within the EU on asylum issues. 
 
¶3.  In February 2009, the Commission presented the Council 
and the European Parliament a proposal for the office. 
Consensus formed quickly on the office's mandate: supporting 
practical cooperation on asylum; supporting member states 
under particular pressure; and contributing to the 
implementation of the Common European Asylum System.  The 
EASO will be set up as an independent European Union agency, 
not part of the Council or Commission.  It will not have 
decision-making powers, but will support activities that 
encourage practical cooperation on asylum, such as 
recommendations, referrals to scientific authority, 
networking and pooling of good practice, and evaluation of 
the implementation of asylum rules. 
 
¶4.  The EASO will work with member states to coordinate 
policies, and will be a conduit for information on 
immigration trends, and policies in the EU.  The office will 
be available to provide support to member states struggling 
with asylum claims by providing information, offering support 
teams, and employing experts to help member states deal with 
a deluge of asylum claims.  The EASO will also provide 
training and information on the best practices throughout the 
EU. 
 
¶5.  An intriguing aspect of the agency is its coordination 
with UNHCR and civil society.  The original EASO plan gave 
UNHCR a vote, but the final version to emerge from 
negotiations did not.  However, UNHCR still has a seat on the 
board, and will be fully informed of the work of the office. 
In addition, to help insure the EASO is in touch with the 
situation on the ground, and not just following the 
directives of Brussels or the member states, the office will 
have a Consultative Forum made up of NGOs and civil society 
institutions operating in the field of asylum policy at 
national, European and the international level.  The Forum 
will help exchange information with the agency and the people 
who are actually working with the asylees and asylum seekers, 
and help provide feedback from the field.  The legislation 
specifies that the forum should meet twice a year. 
 
¶6.  The final plan for the office was weaker than some 
legislators had hoped for.  The EASO will not be a decision 
making body and will only be able to offer support when 
requested.  Some members of Parliament wanted the office to 
be able to create binding proposals for burden sharing and 
asylum policies.  The member states, however, are not ready 
to grant Brussels the power to make immigration policy for 
them.  With the idea of a true implementing authority off the 
table, Parliament was supportive of the office acting as a 
conduit to help bring member state asylum policies into 
conformity with EU guidelines. 
 
¶7.  Parliament pushed to have full veto power over selection 
of the director of the EASO, but eventually agreed to a 
compromise granting it power to interview the candidate, and 
adopt an opinion on the candidate before the Management Board 
makes its final decision on the director.  With that, the 
Council and Parliament have now reached an informal agreement 
on the final details of the office (other than its location) 
and expect it to be adopted at the November 30 Justice and 
Home Affairs (JHA) Council.  The Committee on Civil 
Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE Committee) is 
expected to approve the EASO on either December 1 or 2.  The 
Parliament as a whole will then vote on the proposal, but due 
to the legislative calendar, it will not likely land on the 
docket until January or February of 2010.  It is expected to 
 
BRUSSELS 00001597  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
pass easily. 
 
¶8.  COMMENT: Even though the final product is not as strong 
as some Parliamentarians had hoped, it is a solid beginning 
and will offer the U.S. a new focus for its discussion on 
asylum issues with the EU.  The only key detail yet to be 
settled is where the office will be located, although it 
appears Malta currently has the lead in this race.  END 
COMMENT 
.