Over the next few months, the European Asylum Support Office, EASO, will soon become a fully-fledged European Migration Agency. Executive Director of EASO Malta, Mr Jose' Carreira said that the changes in the statute of the Office are expected to bring about greater responsibility when it comes to dealing with migration.
Replying to questions by this newspaper, Mr Carreira explained that, if approved, the change will bring about new regulation by which EASO can work better on the field. He said that the operational capacity will go up from 100 to 500 people, and the number of respondents to crisis is also expected to increase.
The Agency will also aim to standardize the training and practice in the field and better distribution of mechanism.
Speaking at a press conference, held at the EASO offices in Valletta, the Director said that the European Commission presented the first draft reform of the Common European Asylum Policy. He said the change in EASO is expected to be approved by end of this year.
According to the latest Frontex Data, more than two million people crossed the European border in 2015. Between 1.4 and 1.5 million people applied for the asylum or for some sort of political protection. Some one million applications are still to be processed.
Mr Carreira said that some 10,000 people are still stranded in the Greek islands while many others are waiting in mainland Greece. EASO has ten locations in Italy, including mobile teams. Five more offices are situated in Greece.
A delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, was also present at the press conference following a visit to the EASO headquarters.
Italian MEP Cecile Kyenge called on the EU to take necessary reforms to deal with migration, including the changes in EASO. She said EU policy should go beyond action at country of entry and insisted that migration is an issue which has to be dealt with by the 28 countries.
She explained that the EU is setting up a European Coast Guard so that they can represent all of the Member States and to preserve Schengen. In her remarks, she called for the abolishing of European borders.
Portuguese MEP Carlos Coelho said that the EU is facing a crisis which requires integration and solidarity. He said Europe does not need more extreme nationalistic approach to solve the migration issue.
Maltese Labour Party MEP Miriam Dalli welcomed the much needed extension of EASO. She said the delegation met with Minister for Home Affairs, Carmelo Abela in which they highlighted the Presidency's focus on the migration issue. "Harmony can deliver results; we have seen this in the past. We can finds solutions only if we are united," she added.
Belgian MEP Helga Stevens said the solution to the migration crises lies with eliminating push factors in third countries. She warned that the EU must not use migrants to solve its demographic problems. Helga Stevens seems to disagree with her Italian counterpart saying that Europe must have stronger border control as she completely disagrees with having open borders.