WIREDGOV

New management in the process of implementing an ambitious set of reforms contained in its Governance Action Plan, including an ongoing recruitment programme, which will more than double the Agency’s staff complement by the end of 2020.

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) refers to the European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) Annual Report on EU Agencies for the Financial Year 2017, published on 9 October 2018.

The Agency notes the ECA’s observations in its respect, which recognise the exceptional circumstances under which EASO was still operating in 2017, namely:

• A high number of vacancies;
• An unprecedented expansion of tasks and activities since 2016;
• A substantial budget increase;
• An increase in the number of procurement procedures;
• A number of payments that increased by 225% between 2015 and 2017.

In their observations, the ECA provides a positive opinion on the legality and regularity of the transactions underlying the 2017 accounts. The opinion of the Court is that the accounts present fairly the financial position of EASO, the results of operations, cash flows and changes in net assets.

However, the report highlights a series of areas that need to be improved amongst which are internal controls and procurement. 

EASO takes the Court’s observations very seriously and is taking the necessary corrective actions accordingly in the spirit of good governance. 

Further to this, EASO’s new Executive Director, a.i., Mr. Jamil Addou, who took office on 6 June 2018, immediately committed to a series of ambitious reforms and presented a Governance Action Plan, which was endorsed by the Agency’s Management Board. This plan proposes a set of measurable objectives and deliverables aimed at reinforcing the internal governance of the Agency, rebuilding internal capacity and restoring trust. 

Any further information may be obtained from the European Asylum Support Office on the following email address: press@easo.europa.eu