News

Press Release Published: 21 January 2025

EUAA begins monitoring the operational and technical application of the Common European Asylum System in two Member States

EUAA begins monitoring the operational and technical application of the Common European Asylum System in two Member States

The EUAA Monitoring Mechanism aims to enhance the overall application of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) by EU Member States, as well as identify potential shortcomings in national asylum and reception systems. In agreement with their national authorities, the Agency will pilot the mechanism in Estonia and the Netherlands in 2025.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA)’s Monitoring Mechanism is a new responsibility under the updated EUAA Regulation and aims to prevent or identify possible shortcomings in the asylum and reception systems of EU Member States. It also aims to assess their capacity and preparedness to manage situations of disproportionate pressure. While the EUAA Regulation, and the Monitoring Mechanism therein, is binding on 26 Member States1, 2 , the European Commission remains responsible for ensuring overall compliance with EU law on asylum and reception matters.

The implementation of the Monitoring Mechanism will be guided by four principles;

  • Forward-looking – Focused on present and future challenges, it aims at identifying needs for improvement in the overall functioning of national asylum and reception systems.
  • Comprehensive and relevant – It covers all the aspects of the CEAS including, inter alia, child protection safeguards, the specific needs of vulnerable individuals, and the respect for the Fundamental Rights of applicants. All assessments will be performed against a set of predefined – and objective – criteria.
  • Collaborative and transparent – It will be carried out in close collaboration with the Member State concerned and in full transparency; ensuring that the national authorities are regularly kept informed of the scope, activities, and findings of the monitoring; as well as the information on which the findings are based.
  • Objective and accurate – The EUAA’s monitoring findings will be evidence-based, with information collected in a systematic manner and from a wide range of sources, including: first and foremost, the Member State itself, and existing knowledge within the Agency. The EUAA will also consider information provided by the UNHCR and Civil Society Organisations.

Pilot phase

The EUAA welcomes the fact that the national authorities of Estonia and the Netherlands have agreed to take part in the pilot phase of the monitoring mechanism in 2025. The pilot monitoring exercise will only consider currently applicable legislation. The Monitoring Methodology will then be updated based on the lessons learned, and to reflect the relevant legislative changes under the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Following this, monitoring visits will take place in the remaining Member States between 2026 – 2030, according to a multiannual programme decided by the Agency’s Management Board.

Background

Under Articles 14 and 15 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2303, the EUAA is required to monitor Member States’ operational and technical application the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The Regulation provides for a staggered entry-into-force of the Monitoring Mechanism. On 19 January 2022, Article 14 entered into force and establishes how monitoring should take place in practice. Article 15 governs the procedure for following up on any identified deficiencies. However, the full procedure will only enter into force when Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 on asylum and migration management, becomes applicable on 1 July 2026.

Learn more about the EUAA Monitoring Mechanism.

 

  • 1

    The EUAA Regulation is binding on all EU Member States with the exception of Denmark, which has an opt-out under Protocol 22 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

  • 2

    Commission Decision (EU) 2023/1576 confirms the participation of Ireland in Regulation (EU) 2021/2303 […] on the European Union Agency for Asylum.