The EUAA supports EU and associated countries in improving quality and efficiency in the area of reception. This includes the reception process flow and reception conditions in the framework of Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The network approach serves to promote convergence in the application of the CEAS in the area of reception by way of practical cooperation and information exchange among EU and associated countries, identification of national reception needs and the pooling of expertise for the development of practical tools, guidance and standards based on common and good practices across the EU.
Vision on reception
Reception plays a fundamental role in the efficient implementation of the CEAS. It concerns the provision of accommodation to applicants throughout the duration of the asylum procedure. While temporary in nature, reception facilities are not merely a space of temporary placement providing material reception conditions. Reception facilities are at the crossroad between the asylum procedure and what comes next - integration, relocation to another Member State, or return.
The Strategy on Reception adopted by the Management Board during its 38th Meeting on 18 March 2021, provides a framework to enhance the EUAA’s capacity to respond to the challenges faced by EU and associated countries in the area of reception of applicants for international protection, through permanent technical support, training and operational interventions in EU countries as well as in third countries along the migratory route.
The strategy follows a scenario-based intervention logic, which is further elaborated applying an extensive range of building blocks based on EUAA standards and indicators on reception, including processes, procedures and standards; monitoring and reporting quality management coordination; governance and access to special needs of vulnerable persons.
EUAA’s network approach - EUAA Network of Reception Authorities
The EUAA Network of Reception Authorities aims to foster the exchange of knowledge, information and good practices in the management and process flows in the reception systems across EU and associated countries. Facilitated by the EUAA, the network promotes practical cooperation and the development of operational standards, guidance, and practical tools to support EU and associated countries in the convergence of quality standards in reception in the framework of the CEAS.
The network of reception authorities produces diverse activities.
- Biannual national contact point meetings to discuss challenges, identify needs and agree on priorities for the EUAA’s involvement.
- Thematic meetings on topical issues, identified by the network to discuss gaps and good practices across the EU
- High-level meetings for senior managers and directors of reception authorities to exchange views on strategic and managerial issues.
- Exchange visits and thematic workshops for reception practitioners on themes to trigger practical cooperation and capacity building among peers.
- Workshops with selected national experts for the development of practical tools and guidance.
- Development, promotion, and support for the implementation of practical tools and guidance.
Practical tools and guidance
- Guidelines on Alternatives to Detention New
- Modular Approach to Reception: Container site designs
- Private accommodation for persons displaced from Ukraine
- Guidance on reception conditions: operational standards and indicators
HTML version available here. - Guidance on reception conditions for unaccompanied children: operational standards and indicators
HTML version available here. - Guidance on contingency planning in the context of reception
- Assessment of Reception Conditions Tool is available here.
Support to operations
The EUAA provides expert and technical support in the area of reception to Member States where EUAA operational support is extended.
During the past years, the EUAA has offered support to Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy, Malta in several areas, and more recently to Lithuania and Latvia.
Support has been provided on:
- The Development of national reception strategies;
- Standards and self-assessment of reception conditions in accommodation facilities, including the roll-out of the EUAA Assessment of Reception condition tools;
- Emergency support;
- The implementation of first and second-line quality monitoring framework;
- Information provision, including development of information package and appropriate dissemination tools;
- Reception processes.
![Reception Lithuania](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_column/public/2022-01/Lithuania.png?itok=cCEwCkgO)
Info-session on scabies carried out by Operations in Naujininkai centre (Vilnius) Lithuania
Photo credits: EUAA
Reception conditions and standards
Building reception systems in EU and associated countries is key in addressing the needs of applicants. Establishing harmonised reception conditions across EU and associated countries is paramount for a strong European asylum system. The development and implementation of strong monitoring systems is crucial to keep achieving and maintaining high-quality reception conditions.
The EUAA develops guidance, conducts thematic meetings, and provides technical support to assist EU and associated countries in addressing differences in the setup and modalities for provision of reception conditions.
The Guidance on reception conditions: operational standards and indicators (2016) provides support to Member States in the implementation of the key provisions of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU) and serves as a tool to support reception authorities in planning and in running of reception facilities.
The Guidance on reception conditions for unaccompanied children: operational standards and indicators (2018) provides standards and indicators addressing the special reception needs of unaccompanied children.
The EUAA also developed an IT application for self-Assessment of Reception Conditions (ARC) to assist Member States in the assessment of their own centres and reception systems. The tool is publicly available at the following link https://arc.easo.europa.eu/ and in the following languages: English, Greek, Italian, Romanian and Spanish. In the coming months, the ARC tool will be translated in all the EU languages.