News

 Updated Operational Plans ensure continued operational assistance in Ireland, while preparations continue to extend support to other Member States.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has renewed its Operational Plans with Ireland to support the newly established Tribunal for Asylum and Returns Appeals (TARA) and extend its support to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) until the end of 2027. The new agreement, which governs the support that will be offered by the Agency, was signed by the Executive Director of the EUAA, Nina Gregori, the Director Civil Governance, Dr. Stjohn O’Connor, and the Chairperson of IPAT, Hilkka Becker.

The Agency is also working with Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania to launch and start the implementation of the Agency’s first Multi-Country Operational Plan on Relocation, which will structure EUAA support to Member States in implementing relocation under the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR).

The Agency continues to support Member States in the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into force on 12 June. In Ireland, the renewed Operational Plan will help reduce the appeals caseload while supporting the transition to the new institutional arrangements introduced under the Pact.

Ireland has experienced a significant increase in applications for international protection in recent years, rising from 2 649 applications in 2021 to 18 561 in 2024, with more than 20 000 appeals pending in April 2026.

The renewed Operational Plan extends until 31 December 2027 and broadens the Agency’s support to include TARA, established as part of Ireland’s implementation of the Pact. EUAA experts will continue supporting second-instance procedures through file preparation, country of origin information research, jurisprudence analysis, interpretation services and quality management. 
 

Preparations continue across Member States

The Agency also continues to strengthen its operational preparedness to support Member States in implementing the Pact. As part of these efforts, the EUAA is working with the Spanish authorities to finalise a renewed Operational Plan. Once signed, it will ensure the continuity of operational support in key areas, including reception, information provision, vulnerability and unaccompanied minors, while supporting Spain's implementation of the Pact.

The EUAA is currently operational in 12 Member States, providing support on asylum and reception in line with agreed Operational Plans. The Member States are Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Romania.

The EUAA continues to cooperate with Member States, the European Commission, and national authorities to support the effective implementation of the Operational Plans and the Pact, ensuring that its operational support contributes where it is most relevant, while remaining prepared to respond to future requests from Member States. The Agency balances its operational resources with the evolving needs of Member States across the European Union, ensuring targeted, efficient and sustainable support.