The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration as well as the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030, have signed a new Operational Plan that will enable the Agency to continue providing support to the Spanish authorities with their reception systems until 2026. The EUAA will also provide extensive  support with identified training needs, as well as with the continuing implementation of the Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism.

The plan was signed by Nina GREGORI, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), as well as Jose Luis ESCRIVÁ, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations and Ignacio ÁLVAREZ, State Secretary for Social Rights, on behalf of the Spanish authorities.

With the updated Operational Plan, the Agency will provide operational and technical assistance in four main areas:

• Strengthening the national reception authorities’ capacity to identify, access and manage EU funding including inter alia the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, in the areas of data management and reporting.
• Supporting with information provision and the vulnerability assessment of international protection applicants as well as persons fleeing Ukraine who have registered for temporary protection in Spain.
• Strengthening the capacity of the national authorities to implement a humanitarian attention programme addressed to mixed flows of migrants, including people with international protection needs; as well as to manage an emergency system by deploying Asylum Support Teams to help develop and implement a preparedness and response framework.
• Strengthening the capacity of the national authorities to foster common action in reception of Unaccompanied Minors (UAMs) on Spanish Territory by helping to design and pilot a national mentorship programme. This will include the provision of harmonised information on asylum and reception, and support on data management and funding.