As a decentralised EU Agency with its own governance structure, the EUAA acts within the policies and institutional framework of the EU. Strong cooperation is maintained with the EU Institutions, other EU Agencies and particularly those in the field of Justice and Home Affairs, as well as Member States and Schengen Associated Countries.
Several Working Arrangements, Exchange of Letters and Cooperation Plans have been concluded by the Agency over the past years. Such frameworks, remain applicable also following the entry into force of the Regulation transforming EASO into the EU Agency for Asylum.
The EUAA is one of nine EU agencies working in the field of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA). These nine agencies work together on topics of common interest in the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies’ Network (JHAAN). This Network was established in 2010 to facilitate and increase inter-agency cooperation among the agencies in the JHA field, and to explore synergies in areas of common interest.
Together, the JHA agencies contribute to the implementation of EU’s objectives in the fields of migration, asylum and external border management, the fight against organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism, gender equality and respect for fundamental rights. They also facilitate the functioning of relevant EU IT systems, contribute to EU activities on illicit drugs and drugs addiction and facilitate law-enforcement training.
The Network is constituted of the nine JHA Agencies (in alphabetical order):
- The EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)
- The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)
- The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
- The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)
- The EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA)
- The EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust)
- The EU’s Law Enforcement Agency (Europol)
- The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and
- The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)
EUAA Presidency of 2023
The presidency of the Network rotates on a yearly basis. In 2023, the EUAA held the presidency of the JHAAN. In this role, the Agency set the priorities for the Network for 2023, and organised thematic activities accordingly.
During the EUAA Presidency of the JHAAN, the Network focused on the following priorities:
- Digitalisation
- Implementation of the EU Green Deal in JHA Agencies
- Information provision in mixed migration situations
- Cybersecurity
- JHAAN communication and promotion
Additionally, in its presidency role, the EUAA organised other Network meetings, such as the yearly Heads of JHA Agencies meeting, contact points meetings and working group meetings.
The work programme of the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network for 2023 can be accessed here.
The Final report of the Justice and Home Affairs Agencies Network’s activities in 2023, including a full list of meetings organised during the EUAA Presidency of the Network, can be accessed here.
In 2024, eu-LISA took over the chairmanship of the Network. More information about the Network plans under the eu-LISA leadership can be found here.
Trio-presidency concept
As of 2022, based on the 10-year Assessment Report of the JHAAN adopted by the Heads of JHA Agencies in 2021, the Network implements a Trio Presidency coordination concept. With this concept, three consecutive presiding agencies work closely together by introducing overarching topics to be addressed during three consecutive years. The current Trio (CEPOL, EUAA and eu-LISA) agreed to continue keeping important topics affecting each JHA agency such as ‘digitalisation’ and its different dimensions, ‘business continuity’ and the ‘EU Green Deal implementation’ on the agenda of the Network.
Moreover, the Trio has also agreed to continue working on implementation of the recommendations from the JHAAN Assessment Report. These considerations are reflected in the work programme for 2023, which was endorsed at the Heads of JHA Agencies meeting on 29 November 2022 in Budapest. Continuing the tradition of inclusiveness and the practice of active involvement and ownership of all Network members, the EUAA Presidency relies on the expertise and active contribution of all Agencies, in particular concerning topics specific to the individual mandates of the Agencies.
Latest News and Publications
JHAAN Joint Paper – Contributing to the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine 2024
JHAAN_Survey_report-Green_Deal_survey_July_2023
Joint Paper JHA Agencies - Contributing to the EU's solidarity with Ukraine 2023
Final Report on the JHA Agencies’ Network Activities 2022
Report on the survey on JHA Agencies’ environmental and greening activities
COVID-19 RESPONSE - Summary of main actions taken by EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) agencies