Meet Mr Dirk van den Bulck, the new deputy chair of the Management Board 

You have been part of the EUAA/EASO Management Board since 2010. How is this experience for you so far? Have you seen the organisation changing a lot throughout these years? 

Indeed, the Agency has changed a lot throughout these years. 

I still remember the first Management Board Meeting back in November 2010.  The Office, now the Agency, has gone under a very important evolution and there are a lot of things to say about it. But what I consider the most important thing is, that there has been a huge evolution in the way the Agency, is organised. The structure of the organisation, it has grown from a handful of staff to a well-structured Agency with almost 500 people, a very well organised agency, conforming with the standards of a European Agency. 

Another important element is the extensive operational support provided by the Agency to various Member States throughout the year and the number of high-quality tools and guidance s developed by e Agency with the ultimate goal of achieving a Common European Asylum System.

 

What are you looking forward to the most of your role as Deputy Chair of the Management Board?

In a way, I am already a rather active member of the Management Board and its Preparatory Group I also support the work of the Agency from my organisation and instances in Belgium, so there is a real commitment to the Agency, and I will continue doing it. 

I will continue to be active in service of the Management Board, supporting the mission of the Agency, as well as the Chair of the Management Board. 

 

Is there any particular moment or memory that stands out to you since you joined the Management Board?

There are a lot of significant memories that come to my mind. 

Certainly, one of those moments is the day when the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) replaced the European Asylum Support Office (EASO.) 

 

What do you wish other people knew about the work of the EUAA Management Board? 

I cannot compare the EUAA Management Board, with the Management Boards of other agencies, but what I always have found remarkable is that our Management Board has always functioned very well, with all the Members having the same perspective of reaching a Common European Asylum System.

I have always found very positive, that the Management Board Members are working close together, hand-in-hand, being open to take the necessary decisions. I hope to have further good discussions on the development of the agency, its mission, support and deliverables.