On 29 June, an agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the European Council on the new EU Asylum Agency (EUAA). The new hybrid agency will replace the existing European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and, with its strengthened mandate, play a vital role in implementing the Common European Asylum System.

The new fully-fledged Asylum Agency will monitor and provide technical and operational support to Member States. Along with this, it will also enhance coherence between Member States and ensure quick and thorough procedures providing clarity to those applying for asylum.

Anna Donáth MEP (Momentum, HU), Renew Europe’s negotiator on the file, commented on the agreement:

"EASO has been operating with the same mandate in the last 10 years, so this agreement was a very much needed step to have a fully-fledged EU Asylum Agency. It is both a symbolic and a real step towards having a more European approach when it comes to asylum management, and we hope this will also help the Council to open up to have a good cooperation in the upcoming files as well."

👏#RenewEurope welcomes step to transform @EASO into a full-fledged EU #Asylum Agency.

📰 Read more: https://t.co/FwWRIubEzY pic.twitter.com/LMIk6dE8oo

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) June 29, 2021

Photo credit: Philippe Buissin, European Parliament's Audiovisual Service 2021.