Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1389761
11 EUROPE 1.7.2021 These articles are part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. These articles reflect only the authors' view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. A deal brokered between the European Parliament and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council on Tuesday will see the new EU Asylum Agency monitoring the conditions of migrants "on the ground" in the individual member states. e new oversight mecha- nism will kick into action as from 31 December 2023, and it will ascertain whether individ- ual member states are apply- ing the various aspects of the common asylum system on the ground in member states. Amongst the areas to be monitored will be the condi- tions at reception centres, re- spect for migrants' fundamen- tal rights and child protection safeguards, as well as respect for procedural safeguards. e fully-fledged monitor- ing system, as well as new provisions on member states' capacity and preparedness in situations of disproportionate pressure, will enter into force together with the repeal of the current Dublin Regulation. Pool of 500 experts ready for deployment to member states in need e new Agency will also es- tablish a pool of 500 national experts that can be deployed at the request of the mem- ber states in asylum support teams, and provide technical and operational assistance on the ground. Elena YONCHEVA (S&D, BG), Parliament's rapporteur for the proposal, commented, "Today is a historic day for the European Union's asylum poli- cy. Not only will we have a real fully-fledged Asylum Agency in the EU, but we have also shown that it is possible to re- form the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). "e new Agency is the first building block towards a new CEAS based on meaningful solidarity, effective asylum procedures and stronger pro- tection of fundamental rights." Enhanced operational and technical powers e new EU Asylum Agen- cy, with enhanced operational and technical powers, aims to facilitate cooperation among member states and contribute to converging asylum stand- ards. e provisional agreement reached on Tuesday puts an end to several years of stale- mate in the Council over the creation of the proposed Agency, which will turn the EU Asylum Support Office (EASO), into a fully-fledged agency. e text strengthens the cur- rent EASO, which has been operational and located in Malta since 2011, and turns it into an independent agency that will develop operational standards, indicators, guide- lines and best practices on asy- lum-related matters, and will provide operational assistance to member states including in crisis situations as well as on relocation and resettlement. To improve the functioning of the common asylum system, it will support practical coopera- tion and information exchange on asylum among member states. e agency will get ad- ditional financial and human resources, including enough of its own staff to form part of the asylum support teams and the teams of experts working on monitoring. Cooperation with third countries has also been strengthened. As the agreement is still pro- visional, the text will have to be approved by the European Parliament - first by the Civil Liberties Committee and then by the full House in Plenary session - and by the Council, to enter into force. Fundamental Rights Officer instituted At the request of MEPs, the Agency will have a Funda- mental Rights Officer respon- sible for ensuring it complies with fundamental rights in the course of its activities. More generally, they will pro- mote the respect of funda- mental rights in asylum pol- icy. The Fundamental Rights Officer will also be in charge of the new complaints mech- anism. New EU Asylum Agency to monitor migrants' conditions 'on the ground' in member states