European Asylum Support Office

The EU Parliament today approved a report (1) by Jean Lambert on the creation of a European Asylum Support Office. The UK Green MEP commented:

"I am delighted that the Parliament has now given its final seal of approval for the establishment of the much needed and long awaited European Asylum Support Office and I look forward to seeing it up and running in the very near future. I sincerely hope that the Office will be able to offer real added value when it comes to improving the quality and capacity of Member States' asylum systems, above all to help ensure that protection is provided to those who need it.

The Office will play a vital role in ensuring that all Member States cooperate effectively and work to the same high standards. This will allow individuals to seek asylum in more confidence and will increase trust between Member States, serving as a basis for further cooperation and solidarity in future. I also hope that the work of the Office will go a long way towards ending the lottery of treatment that asylum applicants face in Europe.

I strongly welcome the fact that the Office will work in close cooperation with the UNHCR and that civil society will be able to play a meaningful role to ensure real added value in its work. However, the Office will not solve everything - the responsibility to ensure high quality delivery of the Common European Asylum System lies with Member States."

Note to editors:
(1) approved unanimously without vote under rule 138(3)