News
News Published: 24 February 2026
EU Asylum Agency opens new operational offices on Lampedusa
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has opened a new office facility on Lampedusa, as part of the Agency’s ongoing operational support to Italy. The location will also host representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF, as well as the latter’s partner, Save the Children. The inaugural ceremony was attended by the EUAA Executive Director Nina Gregori, as well as representatives of the Italian authorities.
The opening of the new facility comes as the Central Mediterranean Route remained the most active migration route into the EU in 2025, with around 1000 disembarkations stemming largely from departures from Libya and Tunisia, together representing three quarters of sea arrivals to Italy. The new office was inaugurated by the Agency’s Executive Director Nina Gregori in the presence of the Mayor of Lampedusa Filippo Mannino, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration, the Department of Public Security, the Questura and Prefecture of Agrigento as well as other representatives of EU Agencies and International Organisations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the new shared facility, the EUAA Executive Director Nina GREGORI said: “The establishment of a new EUAA office on Lampedusa reflects the strong commitment and support provided by the Agency to the Italian authorities, in the management of sea arrivals. In 2025, EUAA personnel in Lampedusa provided information on asylum procedures to around 43 700 applicants and helped identify around 12 500 vulnerable persons. Our collaboration with our partners will only be strengthened through this shared location; and serve as a tangible example of the efficiencies the Pact on Migration and Asylum promises to deliver.”
The new premises will strengthen the operational response of the Agency in support to the Italian authorities to meet present and future needs. Specifically, it will facilitate the work of the EUAA multidisciplinary team deployed on the island when providing information on asylum procedures, identifying vulnerability indicators at an early stage, and facilitating transfers of applicants with specific reception needs.
Background
The EUAA has been providing support to the Italian authorities with their asylum and reception systems since 2017 and strengthened its operational presence on Lampedusa in September 2023 as part of the Agency’s immediate implementation of the European Commission’s 10-Point Plan to respond to increasing arrivals of irregular migrants in southern Italy.