European Union Agency for Asylum

Briefing 10-03-2017

The European Asylum Support Office provides Members States with support in fulfilling their obligations under the Common European Asylum System. Since its establishment in 2010, the support office's role has been progressively expanded in order to reflect changes in the EU's legal framework on asylum and to respond to the growing needs of Member States. In the context of the current migration and refugee crisis, the European Commission has presented a proposal to amend and expand the mandate of European Asylum Support Office with a view to turning it into a fully fledged agency. According to the proposal, the agency will ensure the efficient and uniform application of European Union asylum law in order to achieve greater convergence between Member States' asylum systems. The proposal is part of a first set of legislative proposals put forward by the European Commission in May 2016 in order to reform the Common European Asylum System. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Please note this document has been designed for on-line viewing.