An increase in immigrant arrivals, the implementation of a new EU asylum package, and the need to maintain a high standard in asylum and reception processes motivated Italy to ask EASO for assistance. 

In June 2013, EASO and Italy signed the first Special Support Plan with a duration until the end of 2014. This Plan covered a number of prioritised areas, such as data collection and analysis, Country of Origin Information (COI), Dublin system, reception system, emergency capacity and training of independent judiciary, as well as further professional development of the National Asylum Commission. 

In March 2015, a new Special Support Plan was signed to continue support activities, whereas in December 2015 - after the launch of the relocation programme as part of the “hotspot” approach - EASO and Italy signed the EASO Hotspot-Relocation Operating Plan to Italy. The Plan laid down the conditions and objectives of EASO’s technical and operational support to Italy. In particular, EASO provided support by joint-processing asylum cases through deployment of asylum support teams (ASTs), composed of national experts. Activities included support with information provision, registration of applications for international protection in view of relocation and handling Dublin 'take charge' requests. 

In 2017 and 2018, EASO extended its activities in Italy on the basis of an Operating Plan for 2017 with its first amendment and an Operating Plan for 2018. EASO provided support to the Italian authorities with provision of relevant information to potential applicants for international protection; handling registration of applicants for international protection; handling Dublin 'take charge' and 'take back' requests through a dedicated support to the Dublin Unit in Rome; strengthening the reception capacity, in particular with regards to unaccompanied minors; professional development activities and study visits for the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration (MOI), activities in the field of COI; and strengthening the Ombudsperson for Children and Adolescents in implementing protection measures for unaccompanied children. 

In December 2018, EASO, the Italian Ministry of the Interior and the Ombudsperson for Children and Adolescents signed a new Operating Plan for 2019¹. Through this framework, the Agency provided support to the Italian authorities in the following areas: designing an information provision system and developing SOPs, referral pathways and monitoring system for Dublin cases; lodging of applications for international protection; processing of first instance decisions and follow-up with regards to appeals at Territorial Commissions; processing of the Dublin procedures at the Dublin Unit; strengthening the Italian COI Unit in standardising high quality COI used in the asylum decision process; implementing a system to monitor and manage the reception system; supporting the Italian Ombudsperson for Children and Adolescents with capacity building activities for volunteer guardians; organising training activities aimed at boosting the technical capacity of immigration police in registering asylum requests. 

With regard to the 2020 Operating Plan, EASO’s deployments to Italy were reduced as the country had made significant progress in addressing its backlog in first instance and pressure on reception facilities was eased due to decrease in arrivals. As such, EASO shifted its focus to supporting the reduction of backlog of appeals to first instance decisions. The Agency also continued to provide capacity strengthening (although not operational) support on quality reception and asylum. 

In 2020, EASO continued to be heavily involved in ad hoc disembarkations stemming from SAR (Search and Rescue) events and voluntary relocations based on the Standard Operating Procedures which were agreed to in Malta in the autumn of 2019. Furthermore, EASO continued to support the quality and standardisation of asylum procedures and the monitoring of the Italian reception system, also supporting the standardisation of procedures and data collection. 

Due to the Covid-19 emergency, an amendment to the 2020 Operating Plan to Italy has been agreed and signed by all beneficiaries. 

The migratory situation in Italy and the national policy environment in the field of asylum and migration have experienced substantial changes over the past years, with a new wave of changes brought by the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. 
The health emergency and the increase of sea arrivals put the Italian reception system under pressure, with significant impact on the management of the system. 

The Agency support in 2021 builds on the results achieved in 2020, and continued addressing the consequences of the disproportionate pressure on the Italian asylum and reception system, also in view of the Covid-19 health emergency. Specifically, in the 2021 Operating Plan, the following areas were be prioritized: 

• Quality and standardisation of access to asylum procedures, including in emergency situations and ad hoc disembarkation events; 
• Support the quality and standardization of Dublin procedure and asylum determination procedures;  
• Support the management of judicial backlog; 
• Support the quality management and monitoring of the Italian reception system; 
• Support the coordination mechanisms amongst Italian asylum authorities and the efficiency and standardisation of procedures through the development and management of information systems. 

See Press Release (1), Press Release (2), Press Release (3), Press Release (4), Press Release (5) 

To ensure a higher impact on its operations, the EUAA agreed with Italian authorities a 3 year Operational Plan in Italy. From 2022 to 2024 – in accordance with the operational situation and needs assessment carried out with the main Italian stakeholders – the following operational objectives and results will be pursued:

• Enhanced capacity of the Italian authorities to ensure timely and harmonised access to the asylum procedure in compliance with the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
• Enhanced quality and standardisation of Dublin and asylum determination procedure in Italy.
• Enhanced capacity of the Italian authorities to manage the judicial backlog regarding asylum cases.
• Enhanced quality and sustainability of the Italian reception system.
• Improved coordination of the cooperation and solidarity mechanism among EU MSs and of post SAR disembarkation activities for timely implementation of the Voluntary Relocation process as per Standard Operating Procedures (under the 2019 Malta Declaration).

The Operational Plan was signed by the Head of Department of Public Security and the Vice Head of Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration within the Ministry of Interior, by the Head of Department of Judicial Organization, Personnel and Services of the Ministry of Justice, and by the EASO Executive Director.

[1] See corrigendum 

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The Agency has been assisting Malta since 2017 in an effort to further enhance the quality of the national asylum system. The main focus of the collaboration with the Maltese government was directed towards the revision of the age assessment procedures, the organisation of trainings for the local authorities and the dissemination of best practices for lodging applications for international protection.  

In 2018, EASO continued its support to the Office of the Refugee Commissioner, now International Protection Agency, by providing training sessions to Caseworkers and Dublin Officers.  

In 2019 EASO and Malta cooperated on ad hoc voluntary relocation exercises taking place on the Maltese territory. This cooperation included support for the registration of applications for international protection, information provision, support for vulnerability assessments, and support for the Dublin Unit. 

During the same year, according to data of the Ministry of Home Affairs, sea arrivals more than doubled compared to 2018. An EASO assessment confirmed that the increased number of arrivals was putting the Maltese asylum and reception system under disproportionate pressure, by straining the capacity and resources across a number of areas, including the registration of applications for international protection, first-instance determination and Dublin procedure, second-instance determination and reception. The volume of applications grew proportionally and the first seven months of 2019 registered an increase of 83% compared with the same period in 2018. Accordingly, the average number of monthly applications also increased. 

Since 2020, EASO increased its operational support to Malta in the field of registration and, for the first time, reception. EASO personnel started supporting the Maltese authorities through the deployment of Vulnerability Assessors and technical support concerning reception, including age assessment procedures. Additionally, EASO continued to support the Maltese authorities with ad hoc disembarkations and voluntary relocations. 

As early as January 2020 the number of cumulative irregular arrivals to Malta surpassed those recorded in the same period of 2019 and, despite a ban on entry, showed a significant increase. Successively, the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the exacerbation of conflict and fighting in Libya, affected the arrivals in the country and, broadly speaking, irregular migration along the central Mediterranean route. In line with nationwide Covid-19 prevention measures, face-to-face registrations in Malta were interrupted for nine weeks before restarting in the second half of May remotely.

Operating in the offices of the Refugee Commissioner, EASO personnel resumed support to the registrations of asylum cases, the renewal of asylum seeker documents and administrative work. Prior to the suspension of registrations, applications almost doubled compared to 2019. During that period, EASO supported the Maltese asylum authorities in handling the increased pressure and registering 8 out of every 10 applications. In parallel, EASO kept providing support to the Malta Dublin Unit during the pandemic.   

The high number of arrivals registered in 2019 and early 2020 placed the reception system under pressure. The situation was further worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the biggest reception centre on the island, the Hal Far Tent Centre, a mandatory quarantine had been imposed following several positive Covid-19 cases found in the centre in early April 2020.   

With the 2020 Operating Plan, EASO started supporting the Maltese authorities by carrying out vulnerability screening and referrals.  Towards the end of 2020, the Operating Plan was amended so that EASO would also start providing support to age assessment procedures.  

Several tools were reviewed with EASO’s support, namely:

• a Referral Form, used to refer vulnerable people to the  Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS);
• a Vulnerability Assessment Tool;
• a Dry Screening Tool to prioritise cases of registered applicants that need to be assessed;
• a screening tool to prioritise cases that need to be assessed from the residents that did not have access to the asylum procedure;
• and a recording tool to keep track of the stage of each referral.  

In cooperation with the Maltese authorities and external stakeholders, a new multi-annual Operating Plan was drafted and signed in December for the period 2022 – 2024.

Building on the progress achieved through the operational and technical assistance provided since 2019, and assuming that the number of arrivals will remain at similar levels as in 2021, the Agency may initiate, in cooperation with the Maltese authorities, phasing out from specific support areas (such as decreasing direct support to asylum processing) towards the end of 2022, with a possible carry over into early 2023.

The 2022 Operational Plan, in this perspective, foresees a shift of activities involving information provision, where sessions will no longer be supported by the EUAA, but support in developing content and tools will take its place.

Secondly, the activity involving support to the Care Team of AWAS (Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seeker) through age assessments was withdrawn.

All other activities that were supported by EASO during the 2021 OP will continue into 2022 with the following outcomes:

• Expected Outcome 1: Enhanced capacity of the Maltese Authorities to ensure swift access to international protection procedure and reduce the backlog at first instance
• Expected Outcome 2: Enhanced capacity of the Agency for Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) in identifying, prioritising, and supporting asylum applicants residing in Malta.

Due to the multi-annual nature of the Plan, the agreed measures may be subject to annual and/or ad-hoc reviews as necessary to ensure their continued relevance and added value.

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EASO’s support to Cyprus dates back to June 2014, with the establishment of a Special Support Plan. The Plan  allowed EASO to support in a number of areas such as training of staff, support to managing vulnerable groups, advice on age assessment procedures, enhancing the reception conditions, as well as concerning data collection and analytical capacities (i.e. statistics and information technology). Since then, Cyprus continued to request EASO’s support to face the growing  pressure on its asylum system. 

The Operating Plan 2021, signed on 17 December 2020, thus follows eight years of continuous cooperation between EASO and the Republic of Cyprus.  

The 2021 Operating Plan focuses on supporting and enhancing national capacities in the areas of registration of applications for international protection and access to asylum procedure, reception, backlog reduction for first instance and second instance asylum cases. 

The Pournara First Reception Centre continues to be one of the main beneficiaries of EASO support, namely the so-called ‘Safe Zone’, the Examination Centre for interviews and the Registration area.  Activities supported by EASO include   enhancing the system’s efficiency and effectiveness through digitalization and remote working modalities, strengthening the attention on best practices especially in relation to vulnerability and quality, and contributing to the creation and implementation of a national reception model and strategy. The Agency provides technical support and capacity building activities, along with increased operational support, to reduce existing backlog of first and second instance asylum cases, in order to reduce the pressure that the Cypriot asylum system has been experiencing in the last years.

The 2022-2024 Operational Plan, the first of the multi-annual plans to be signed in Cyprus, signed on December 13, 2021 between EASO, the Minister of the Interior and the Chief Registrar of the Republic of Cyprus. The plan aims to continue contributing to the enhanced implementation of the EU Asylum Acquis and EU reception standards for persons in need of protection in Cyprus.  

The 2022 Operational plan provides support to Cypriot authorities in line with the assistance previously provided in 2021,  under 3 measures: Support to Asylum (registration, first instance and determination at appeal), Support to Reception and Cross Cutting Support (applicants with special needs, quality, capacity building digitalization and transfer procedures). 

Regarding Support to Asylum, the EUAA aims at strengthening the capacity of the Aliens and Immigration Unit of the Police (AIU) and the Cyprus Asylum Service (CAS) to respond to registrations and arrivals primarily at the First Reception Centre ‘Pournara’. The Agency will also continue assisting CAS with processing applications at first instance and enhancing the capacity of the International Protection Administrative Court (IPAC) to manage and reduce the backlog at second instance.  

Concerning Support to Reception, the EUAA will continue to implement activities in the Kofinou Reception Centre (i.e. social work, reception support, info provision). Following the development of the integrated national reception strategy in 2021, the EUAA will supports its operationalization and implementation. 

Lastly, the 2022-2024 Operational Plan outlines Cross Cutting Support which the EUAA will be providing to the relevant authorities, to inform practices across asylum and reception. The support provided focuses on streamlining procedures, developing tools and providing the resources for support to applicants with special needs, quality assurance mechanisms, capacity building, digitalization and relocation exercises. 

Throughout the implementation of the Plan, the Agency in Cyprus also plans to begin engaging with, and supporting additional stakeholders, including: the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD), Ministry of Health (MoH) and Social Welfare Services (SWS). 

On 24 February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a nationwide humanitarian emergency. The resulting influx of refugees to the European Union led to Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022, where Art.3 par.2 stipulates that the EUAA should provide operational support to Member States that have requested assistance to help them cope with the situation, including for the purposes of applying the aforementioned Decision. In Cyprus, the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of 4 March 2022 was activated by Ministerial Decision on the 22nd of March 2022, and the article 20 of the Cyprus Refugee Laws which incorporates the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC.

Against this backdrop on the 13th of April 2022 the Cypriot authorities requested support from the EUAA for the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive in Cyprus. Following this, the EUAA Executive Director on the 6th of May responded to the request confirming EUAA capacity to support with the allocation of new resources as needed.

Between 14 March and 10 July 2022, a total of 14,215 Ukrainian nationals have registered for temporary protection: 5,103 applications have been lodged online, 874 in offices in Nicosia, 1,763 in Larnaca, 654 in Famagusta, 3,824 in Limassol and 1,997 in Paphos.

We support the authorities to manage the implementation of TPD and EUAA Registration support team is involved in the delivery of information provision, TP registration and assessment of the eligibility criteria. In May EUAA shipped EUAA leaflets on TP for adults and Unaccompanied and separated children, in EN and UKR, tailored to the CY specificities.

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On the 17th of December 2020 EASO`s Executive Director Nina Gregori and the Secretary of State for Migration, Hana Jalloul Muro, signed the very first Operating Plan between the Agency and Spain. This followed extensive consultations since the summer of 2020.  

With this Operating Plan EASO now supports all the major Member States of first arrival – Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Spain. EASO and the Secretary of State for Migration carried out a Joint Rapid Needs Assessment in the autumn in order to identify needs in the area of reception. Actions for support were subsequently formulated and agreed upon in an Operating Plan. The focus of the Plan is broad support to the development of a new model for reception and the related structural and organisational changes, including training. EASO also committed to work with the Spanish authorities in the Canary Islands where arrivals had risen substantially to over 23,000 by the end of 2020. The Operating Plan also includes an inception phase for cooperation in the area of resettlement.

On the 17th of December 2021 EASO`s Executive Director Nina Gregori and Secretary of State for Migration Jesús Perea Cortijo signed an Operating Plan for the years 2022 and 2023. This cooperation will build on the very first Operating Plan between the agency and Spain implemented (and assessed) throughout 2021.

Actions for support have focused, and will continue to focus, on broad support to the development of a new model for reception and the related structural and organisational changes, including aspects such as data management and funding. EASO also remains committed to working with the Spanish authorities in the Canary Islands and increasingly in other areas of Spain which see high numbers of arrivals.

In addition to broadening and deepening the work on information provision and vulnerability procedures, contingency planning and reception conditions monitoring, the EUAA will seek to provide support to the development of new reception centres throughout the Spanish territory – and to the improvement of existing ones. Cooperation in the area of resettlement, in particular with regard to info materials and training, will continue after successful initiatives in 2021.

Training of a wide range of stakeholders in the area of reception remains overall a key pillar of the new two-year Operating Plan; training activities will cover induction, specific reception-related topics and training of trainers with the aim to strengthen capacity among the authorities.

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Following a Needs Assessment exercise conducted between February and May 2023 by the EUAA in close collaboration with the Lithuanian authorities, a new Operational Plan was signed, with an implementation period from 1 July 2023 until 31 December 2024. This is the third Operational Plan agreed between the EUAA and Lithuania.  The 2023-2024 Operational Plan includes one measure, aiming at the provision of support in Reception, and more particularly in providing Technical and Operational support to the national Reception models and strategies towards the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).  

In this regard, the Agency continues supporting the Lithuanian authorities to strategically conceptualise, design and develop the new Reception Agency of Lithuania and enhance the quality of the reception procedures. EUAA’s support in the 2023-2024 Operational Plan currently in place, extends its support through the delivery of trainings and thematic workshops, organisation of study visits to other Member States for information sharing on reception models, good practices exchange, and support with contingency planning.

In the context of reception support, EUAA Asylum Support Teams (ASTs) will be deployed to cover the areas of information provision, vulnerability pre-screening, and interpretation.

Background 

Lithuania’s initial request for EUAA support took place in the summer of 2021. Following an unprecedented increase of irregular migration flows, Lithuania noticed a significant rise in the number of asylum applications, which put pressure on its Asylum and Reception systems.

Following a request from the Lithuanian authorities expressing the need for EUAA’s support in relation to asylum and reception related procedures, a Rapid Needs Assessment exercise was conducted, in collaboration with the national authorities, which led to the signature of the first Operational Plan to Lithuania, on 15 July 2021.  

The Operational Plan objectives aimed to enhance efficiency in access to procedures for applicants, in processing asylum applications and improving the effectiveness and efficiency in managing first line reception. 

During the implementation period of 2021, the Operational Plan was further amended on 14 September 2021, following another Rapid Needs Assessment exercise.  

The amended Operational Plan was extended until 30 June 2022, expanding EUAA support to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and its subordinate institution – the Refugees’ Reception Centre.   

The new amendment included for the first time support in technical expertise for the design and planning of new reception facilities, as well as dedicated support in the management of reception facilities for vulnerable asylum seekers. 

A second Operational Plan was signed on 26 June 2022, with an implementation period between 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2023. The main findings emerging from the Rapid Needs Assessment suggested proceeding with the deployment of Asylum Support Teams to further enhance the capacity of the national reception sites through continued support with information provision, interpretation and vulnerability screening procedures, as well as by providing relevant reception-related training to enhance the professional development of reception personnel. Furthermore, this Operational Plan included the addition of a second area, and more specifically the provision of Technical Support, aiming at conceptualizing the design of the new Reception Agency in Lithuania.  

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The second Operational Plan (OP) in 2022 between Latvia and the EUAA was signed on 29 March 2022, following a rapid needs assessment, and after implementation, the OP came to an end at the end of December 2022. The OP included continued deployment of teams of interpreters in support of the Latvian authorities, while also aiming to deliver EUAA trainings to members of the State Border Guard and the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

As per the OP, the EUAA successfully provided seven translations, delivering on 117% of the proposed target. For both interpretation and planned training modules to be delivered, the targets were successfully achieved.

The closure event, marking the exit of EUAA support to Latvia, took place in Riga on 8 December 2022. The outcomes of EUAA’s support were discussed along with the potential for future cooperation in terms of other types of EUAA possible support. In view of the completion of OP activities and the reduction of pressure on the Latvian asylum and reception systems, the Operational Plan 2022 was completed and EUAA could successfully exit.

Latvia’s initial request for EUAA support took place during the summer of 2021. Due to the unprecedented increase in arrivals, the Latvian asylum and reception systems reached their capacity limit, which resulted, on 10 August 2021, in the declaration of a state of emergency in four administrative territories (Ludza, Krāslava, Augšdaugava and Daugavpils). On 18 August 2021, Latvia requested the support of the Agency in relation to both asylum and reception procedures.

On 8 September 2021, following a needs assessment conducted with the national authorities, the EUAA and Latvian authorities signed the first Operational Plan with an initial duration until 31 December 2021, which was later extended until 31 March 2022. The plan addressed the operational needs of Latvia in identified priority areas. It foresaw the deployment of teams of interpreters with the aim of improving effectiveness and efficiency in processing asylum applications and in providing reception services for applicants of international protection.

Main International Partners

Patveruma Mekletaju Izmitinasanas Centrs - Mucieniki
Jaunceltnes iela 2-8, Jaunceltnes-2, Ropažu novads, LV-2135, Latvia

The Operational Plan with Belgium was signed by the Executive Director of EASO, Nina Gregori, and the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Sammy Mahdi on 16th  December 2021.

The Agency will work with the Belgian federal asylum agency, FEDASIL, to increase short and medium-term reception capacity while ensuring that reception standards are in line with the Common European Asylum System (CEAS).
 
The EUAA operational support to Belgium  in 2022 will be based on two pillars:

• First response to address emergency reception needs, notably by increasing the number of reception spaces available and improving the quality of existing emergency reception facilities.
• Medium-term response to increase reception capacity, by conducting an evaluation for, and supporting the establishment of, a modular emergency reception centre, as well as the enhancement of arrival processes.

 
In the short term, EUAA will provide up to 150 reception units in the coming months in order to support an increase of Belgian reception capacity. This may be supplemented by additional units in the medium term, based on a further needs assessment in respect of the development of a modular emergency reception centre. 

Up to 100 EASO personnel may be deployed throughout the period, including Site Management Experts, Information Provision Experts, Social Workers, Trainers, Child Protection Experts, a Reception Center Designer and interpreters.

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The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) signed an Operational Plan with the Romanian Ministry of Interior on 28th March 2022, thus setting the framework for the provision of technical and operational assistance by the EUAA to Romania until December 2022.

Romania is one of the main entry points for those seeking temporary protection following the war in Ukraine. In addition, the country has experienced an increase in the number of applications for international protection over the last three years, resulting in extraordinary pressure on its asylum and reception systems.

Prior to the establishment of the Plan, a rapid needs assessment was conducted by EUAA, focusing on needs of the asylum and reception systems in Romania, potential application of temporary protection concept, the scope of an EUAA intervention and definition of a potential intervention.

EUAA operational and technical support to Romania

The agreed areas of intervention and support are: support in implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive, reception support for applicants of international protection and support the implementation of voluntary transfers from Romania to other EU Member States of displaced persons falling under the Temporary Protection Directive. The responsible authorities and main national partner of the EUAA, are the General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII) through its Directorate for Asylum and Integration (DAI).

The EUAA foresees the deployment of up to 120 EUAA staff, experts, and interpreters as an immediate response to the needs identified, in locations such as Bucharest, Radauti, Somcuta Mare and Galati. Training activities are currently planned to be implemented in the short and medium term to deployed staff and experts. Further training needs at local and regional level will be assessed, with a view to provide support and coaching on registration procedures in the framework of the Temporary Protection Directive to staff deployed by GII.

The EUAA and the Romanian authorities have collaborated on updating the information related to temporary protection found on the official website of the General Inspectorate for Immigration. They have also conducted a quality assurance exercise of information related to temporary protection found on commonly used websites. 

The EUAA is also conducting a mapping exercise of the workflow related to registration of temporary protection at all locations supported by the Agency. This workflow description is in turn supporting the development of dedicated information provision material, including posters, at all locations supported by the Agency. 
 

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The EUAA operation in Moldova started in May 2022 and was suspended on 1 April 2023. The European Commission requested the EUAA’s intervention in support of the EU+ Air Transfer programme. Its aim is to facilitate the movement of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Moldova to participating EU Member States.

In terms of background, it can be noted that since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova has received many Ukrainian residents and nationals fleeing the war. The European Commission and the relevant EU agencies as well as UNHCR and IOM developed joint Standard Operating Procedures for the implementation of a voluntary transfer programme to facilitate the move of temporary protection beneficiaries from Moldova to pledging EU Member States.

EUAA support to the voluntary transfer programme included information provision and operational coordination activities.

Specifically, the EUAA has:

• Gathered FAQs from the main stakeholders (UNHCR, IOM).
• Gathered responses from pledging MS through the reception network and the Solidarity Platform in a harmonized manner.
• Drafted country specific info booklets (pledging MS)
• Disseminated information across potential beneficiaries to the programme.

These activities aim to provide updated and accurate information on Temporary Protection and the transfer programme to potential beneficiaries present in Moldova.

The reason for suspending EUAA support to Moldova was a result of numerous requests for assistance the Agency had been receiving and the necessity to prioritize its interventions to Member States whose asylum and/or reception systems are under pressure. Furthermore, the decision was also made taking into account that since the transfer program was initiated, the response has gradually decreased both in terms of transfers and interest by potential beneficiaries.

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On 5 May 2022 the Executive Director of EUAA and the Chairman of the board of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) signed the 2022 Operational Plan. Under this Plan, the EUAA aims to support the Dutch national authorities in providing reception to applicants for international protection and to enhance operational collaboration between the two parties in the field of reception.

In the course of 2021, the Netherlands experienced a sharp increase in the occupancy in reception centres, following the relaxation of COVID-related travel restrictions. This exerted heightened pressure on the national reception system.

The number of applicants for international protection has grown, including evacuated Afghan nationals and family members of beneficiaries of protection in the Netherlands who could not travel to the Netherlands earlier because of the travel restrictions. As a result, the occupancy in reception centres grew from 26 925 to 35 764 in the period between June and December, 2021. In this context, the Dutch authorities sought to expand the reception capacity of the Central Agency of the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) by the end of 2021 and started exploring alternative solutions including an increase in the use and enhancement in the quality of temporary emergency facilities. Under this backdrop, the Dutch authorities requested EUAA support at the end of 2021.

The 2022 Operational Plan provides support to the Dutch Authorities to enhance and increase national reception capacity for persons in need of protection in the Netherlands. The plan expires at the end of 2022.

It also provides enhanced operational collaboration in the field of reception in the following aspects: to develop guidelines and/or technical specifications for the establishment of modular temporary reception centres and to exchange expertise in the field of reception-related training.

Main National Partners

Main International Partners

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The EUAA has been supporting the Czech Republic since June 2022  to enhance the capacity of the Czech authorities to effectively implement procedures and activities related to Temporary Protection. 

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the Czech Republic has been receiving a high number of displaced persons from Ukraine. This event caused increased pressure on the country’s registration and reception capacities. A state of emergency was declared in Czechia as of 4 March 2022 and a contingency plan was fully activated to respond to the uprising needs of displaced persons fleeing Ukraine. 

Under this backdrop, an Operational Plan was signed between the EUAA executive Director and the Minister of Interior of Czechia following a rapid needs assessment, to aid the national authorities until 31 December 2022. 

In December 2022, in consideration of the ensuing high influx of Temporary Protection beneficiaries and the persisting impact on the Czech asylum and reception systems, a 12-month extension of the Plan was agreed until 31 December 2023. In May 2023, following a request by Czech authorities the Plan was amended by excluding the provision of reception containers/units.

Main National Partners

Main International Partners

	The European Commission (EC) is the executive branch of the European Union, it develops and translates into policies and initiatives the EU strategy. The European Commission is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. It was established in 1958 and its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
	UNHCR the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the UN Refugee Agency, dedicated to aid and protect the rights of refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. It was founded in 1950 in response to the refugee crisis following World War II, and currently operates in 135 countries. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. In recognition of its work, UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace prizes, in 1954 and 1981.
	IOM the International Organization for Migration is the principal intergovernmental organization dealing with migration issues. IOM's stated mission is to promote humane and orderly migration by providing services and advice to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and received its current name in 1989. In September 2016, IOM became a related organization of the United Nations. As of March 2019, the International Organization for Migration has 173 member states and eight observer states. It is the only global migration agency dealing with all aspects of migration.

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The EUAA is supporting Bulgaria since September 2022 through the implementation of Operational Plans. The current 2023-2024 Operational Plan was signed on 3 July 2023 by the Executive Director of EUAA and the Chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees at the Council of Ministers in Bulgaria. It aims to support the national authorities in processing asylum applications and providing reception conditions in line with the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Main fields of activities include training, capacity building, interpretation services and support in the following areas: 

1. Quality assurance at first instance.

2. Digitalisation of case file management systems. 

3. Country of Origin Information (COI) and Country Guidance. 

4. Asylum processing at first instance including processing of Dublin requests.

5. First- and second-line reception. 

The Operational Plan is foreseen to last until 31 December 2024. 

Background 

During 2021-2022, Bulgaria experienced a significant increase in arrivals of third country nationals and asylum applications. The increased number of displaced persons from Ukraine seeking safety generated additional stress on the country’s accommodation capacities. These developments exerted pressure on the country’s asylum and reception systems and led the national authorities to request EUAA support on 27 May 2022. 

On 2 September 2022 the Executive Director of EUAA and the Bulgarian national authorities signed the 2022 Operational Plan to last until the end of that year. In this Operational Plan the EUAA supported Bulgaria in the effective implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive and the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). EUAA activities focused on professional development, training and support to the administrative capacity in the field of digitization. 

On 31 October 2022, the Bulgarian authorities requested the continuation and expansion of EUAA support as a result of the persisting pressure on the national asylum and reception systems, further accentuated during the implementation of the 2022 Operational Plan. 

The 2022-2023 Operational Plan was an amendment of the 2022 Operational Plan and it included activities in the area of reception and asylum while it also maintained the measure in support for the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive. 

In June 2023 the Bulgarian authorities requested further support from the Agency to improve frontline and structural support at central level in asylum and reception. As a result, the two parties signed the current 2023-2024 Operational Plan. As at that point, the flows of beneficiaries of Temporary Protection were relatively low and Bulgarian authorities managed independently the respective procedure, Temporary Protection was not included as a pillar of support in the current Operational Plan.  

Finally, it is worth noting that the EUAA (then EASO) has provided support to Bulgaria through Operating Plans and Special Support Plans from 2013 to 2018. 
The areas of support were various: asylum procedure, delivery of core training, identification of vulnerable people and referrals. 

More information about past support in Bulgaria is available in the tab “Past Operations”

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Main International Partners

	The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union, it develops and translates into policies and initiatives the EU strategy. The European Commission is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EU. It was established in 1958 and its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
	UNHCR the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the UN Refugee Agency, dedicated to aid and protect the rights of refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to a third country. It was founded in 1950 in response to the refugee crisis following World War II, and currently operates in 135 countries. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. In recognition of its work, UNHCR has won two Nobel Peace prizes, in 1954 and 1981.
	IOM the International Organization for Migration is the principal intergovernmental organization dealing with migration issues. IOM's stated mission is to promote humane and orderly migration by providing services and advice to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland and received its current name in 1989. In September 2016, IOM became a related organization of the United Nations. As of March 2019, the International Organization for Migration has 173 member states and eight observer states. It is the only global migration agency dealing with all aspects of migration.

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During 2022, the Slovenian asylum and reception systems faced disproportionate pressure due to multiple factors:

1. increase in the number of border crossings;
2. sharp increase in the number of applications for international protection;
3. additional pressure to the reception system due to beneficiaries of temporary protection being accommodated in reception facilities;
4. increased difficulty in the management of reception facilities due to the high turnover of residents in reception facilities.

Against this backdrop, a request for support was addressed to the EUAA in late August 2022 by Slovenian authorities, covering a broad spectrum of matters including vulnerability, asylum and reception procedures, accommodation capacity and interpretation services.

Following a rapid needs assessment conducted by EUAA, an Operational Plan was agreed and signed between the EUAA executive Director and the Minister of Public Administration and Acting Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia dated 16 December 2022. The Operational Plan allows the EUAA to support the Slovenian authorities, among other things, in the improvement of quality and procedures concerning the processing of asylum applications, in the improvement of reception conditions and in the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive. The Operational Plan also includes a major component on training and professional development of Slovenian authorities’ officials at various levels.

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The EUAA signed an Operational Plan with Austria in December 2022 to support the Austrian national authorities in addressing emergency reception needs in the country.

By 2022 Austria had been experiencing disproportionate pressure on its reception system. Despite local efforts to cope with the continued increase in asylum applications, reception capacity did not suffice to accommodate the continually rising number of applicants. Within the last two years the number of persons in the Austrian reception systems had tripled. Consequently, shortages have been reported in staffing which coupled with the increasing number of arrivals and the increased pressure on the existing reception staff makes the identification and treatment of vulnerable cases also challenging. Furthermore, the inclusion into the Austrian reception system of a portion of beneficiaries of the temporary protection has put under additional pressure the reception system at provincial level.

Against this backdrop, the Austrian authorities requested support from the Agency on 31 August 2022 in enhancing their capacity to respond to emergency reception needs.

In consideration of the operational situation and following a rapid needs assessment, an Operational Plan was agreed and signed between the EUAA executive Director and the Director General for Migration and International Affairs of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (dated on 6 December 2022).

The resulting 2022-2023 Operational Plan aims to support Austrian first response to emergency reception needs in the following areas:

1. management and operation of reception facilities
2. communication and information provision
3. vulnerability identification, screening and referrals
4. training relevant to reception
5. study visits to other Member States focusing on reception related topics
6. provision of interpretation services

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