News

On 28 September 2026, the EUAA hosted the second annual State of Asylum Conference in St. Julian’s, Malta. Bringing together around 300 participants in person and a further 700 registered online, the Conference provided an opportunity to take stock of the first 100 days of the entry-into-application of the Pact on Migration and Asylum’s and to explore how technology can support the future of asylum and reception management.

Under the theme Digitalising the Pact, this year’s Conference opened with contributions from Nina GREGORI, the EUAA’s Executive Director, Antonella SBERNA, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and Magnus BRUNNER, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration at the European Commission. Their contributions set the scene for discussions on the ongoing transition to the new legal framework and the importance of continued cooperation. Meanwhile, Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at the European Commission, highlighted the need for better coordination, information sharing and smarter use of technology to reduce fragmentation in Pact implementation. 

Panel discussions examined the practical realities of implementing the Common European Asylum System, including progress made and remaining challenges, while also exploring how technology, digitalisation and artificial intelligence can support more effective asylum and reception systems. Panelists also discussed opportunities and risks of emerging technologies and the safeguards needed to ensure that their use respects fundamental rights and the right to an individual assessment. 

The Conference also marked the launch of the European Executive Master’s in Asylum and Reception Management, the first master’s programme launched by the EUAA Academy, supporting the development of expertise and capacity as European asylum and reception systems adapt to the new framework.