European Asylum Support Office

Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Giorgos Koumoutsakos and the executive director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), Nina Gregori, on Tuesday signed an agreement paving the way for the agency to acquire a branch in Greece as part of its efforts to bolster support for the country as it struggles to manage rising numbers of refugees and migrants.

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) will boost its operational deployments this year, with up to 550 personnel deployed in Greece, 150 in Italy, 120 in Cyprus and 60 in Malta, the agency said in a press release Tuesday.

58,000 asylum applications in the EU have been filed since the beginning of this year, the European Asylum Support Office said. Half are denied. Although migratory pressure on the EU is declining, asylum applications are increasing. Malta is one of the first to welcome migrant boats.

Reference is made to an article published by Kathimerini on 16 June 2018, entitled "EASO probe hampers asylum procedures." The article makes various inaccurate and misleading assertions that the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) would like to correct.

The ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct at the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) could impact the processing of thousands of asylum claims in Greece.

The European Union's anti-fraud agency OLAF is investigating allegations of misconduct in procurement procedures, irregularities in management of human resources and possible breaches of data protection at EASO.

With Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Valentin Radev as Chair, the ministers of the interior of the EU Member States today took stock of the progress made by the Bulgarian Presidency on the reform of the Common European Asylum System.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras raised the matter of Turkey’s increasing aggression in the Aegean Sea at the EU Summit meeting in Brussels. During his speech to the EU26 leaders Mr. Tsipras said the Greece aimed to continue defending its sovereignty while maintaining an open channel of communication with Turkey.

Tensions bubbled to the surface at a reception center on Chios on Wednesday when migrants angrily protested against the slow processing of asylum applications, damaging the offices of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) just two days after similar unrest on Lesvos.

A group of Syrian refugees protested on Wednesday at the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) premises in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Chios, forcing its staff to evacuate, officials said.

Migrants on Monday attacked the premises of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) inside the Moria hot spot on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, completely destroying four container office units and damaging another two during a protest that was contained by riot police.