The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) offers specific operational support to the EU Member States. The purpose of the Support Office is to facilitate, coordinate and strengthen practical cooperation among Member States on the many aspects of asylum and help to improve the implementation of the Common European Asylum System. Specifically, EASO can provide effective operational support to Member States subject to particular pressures on their asylum and reception systems, drawing up all useful resources at its disposal which may include the coordination of resources provided for by Member States under the conditions laid down in the EASO Regulation. This effective operational support refers to tailor-made assistance to the Member State on a series of measures agreed between EASO and the Member State requesting such support. 

Member States who need external help in dealing with their specific situation can request EASO’s support after the terms of reference, documented in the Operational Plan, have been agreed upon.

Malta requested EASO support in 2019 due to the unprecedented pressures on the national asylum system, which led to the signing of an Operational and Technical Assistance Plan between the two parties. This paved the way for the deployment of Asylum Support Teams and the provision of technical and operational assistance to Malta. All procedures under the Operating Plan are executed under the coordination of the Maltese authorities, to ensure that asylum seekers have access to the asylum procedure, and their application is examined as swiftly as possible. 

EASO helped alleviate the pressure on the Maltese asylum system by assisting the International Protection Agency with the registration of applications, conducting interviews and drafting decisions on such applications. This support continued in 2020, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will progress into 2021.