You have been Member of the EASO Management Board since the establishment of the Agency representing Slovakia (first as an Alternate Member and then MB Member) and you were recently elected Deputy Chair of the EASO Management Board. How is this experience for you so far? Have you seen EASO changing a lot throughout these years?

A decade may sound like a long time, but it feels like yesterday when the EASO Regulation came into force. Perhaps it is because asylum is a very demanding topic, and then the time flies very fast. I remember EASO with few staff members sitting in one building. Now, the agency is much more prominent in many aspects. However, the most important is the growing role EASO plays in building the Common European Asylum System. Moreover, it will be very soon transformed into a fully-fledged agency. So yes, I have seen many changes, and the future appears to be even more promising.

What do you find the most challenging working as Deputy Chair of the EASO Management Board?

I have been assigned to the Deputy Chair position since June this year. It is still a very new experience for me. I would say that it requires a bit more responsibility as one of the Management Board members. On the other hand, having such a skilled Chairperson as Mikael and with the support of a highly professional EASO Management Board Secretariat team, any challenge becomes feasible. In addition, I can rely on other members of the Management Board or EASO management staff and I feel privileged to call some of them also friends.

If you are a person who genuinely wants to contribute to a better European asylum system, EASO or future EUAA is the right place for you.

During the 40th Management Board Meeting you discussed about the ongoing preparations towards the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). What were the main highlights?  How do you see EASO’s support to the EU on asylum and reception in the following 10 years?

Discussions about the transformation of EASO to EUAA were already ongoing during the first Slovak presidency of the Council of the EU in 2016. Therefore, it is great to see that the transition is approaching. 

The last Management Board Meeting focused on many aspects in this regard. For instance, the work program and budget 2022, requirements for respective personnel and financial sources allowing to carry out of the new tasks. 

Since 2015 asylum has become a topic, which attracts more attention among European citizens. I can imagine that the importance of working together within the EU with the irreplaceable support of agencies, including EUAA, will continue to grow.

Between 2013-2015, you have worked as Seconded National Expert for EASO, in the area of Country of Origin Information. How was this experience for you?

It was a very enriching experience. These two years remain deeply in my heart. I left EASO at a time when the migration crisis was at its beginning.  Nevertheless, I can confidently say that the opportunity to be a part of the EASO staff enabled me to see many topics we are currently discussing at the Management Board from a different angle. 

Is there any particular moment or memory that stands out for you since you joined the EASO family? Any significant moments you could share with us?

I remember the first Management Board meetings held in Mediterranean Conference Centre, and that is not because Brad Pitt’s movie crew was gathering at the same building during one of such meetings. (smile)

Over ten years, there were quite a lot of memorable moments. But, always, when I enter the EASO headquarters, I have a profound feeling. It is because I had a chance to visit it when it was only empty walls, and now EASO has its name in the field of migration and asylum.

What do you wish other people knew about the important work that the EASO Management Board does?

The role of the Management Board is clearly stated in the Regulation. In essence, it is a planning and monitoring body of the Agency. Each Member state can appoint one member to the board and the Commission two. With the upcoming EUAA, the importance of Management Board decisions will increase considerably, as its decisions will not only impact the wellbeing and functioning of the Agency but will also have a more direct impact on national asylum systems.

What advice would you give to our readers who would like to apply for a job at EASO?

Go for it! It might not be easy, the requirements for new employees are high. That is because working in the field of asylum and reception, and even more in an international environment, can be incredibly challenging. However, if you are a person who genuinely wants to contribute to a better European asylum system, EASO or future EUAA is the right place for you. There are many opportunities in the pipeline. Follow the EASO website.