News Item

Operationalising the right to information and legal aid in EU asylum procedures

FRA provided fundamental rights input to the EU Asylum Agency’s (EUAA) conference on key elements of legal assistance and information sharing in the context of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The event focused on the pivotal role of accessible legal aid and transparent information-sharing arrangements in the asylum context to ensure the fair and effective implementation of the Pact.

Participants were invited to exchange views on the needs for harmonised approaches across Member States, capacity building for legal professionals and enhanced cooperation to protect the rights of asylum applicants while ensuring efficient asylum procedures.

The conference was held from 2 to 3 October in Rome. It brought together approximately 120 people onsite and an additional 80 participants online. They were primarily legal professionals and NGO representatives from EU+ countries who are active in the field of asylum and provide access of asylum applicants to legal information, legal counselling and legal assistance. 

FRA’s presentation was delivered in a session centred on the role of EU agencies in ensuring and promoting fundamental rights of asylum applicants under the Pact. The Agency’s input was part of its broader work to support the rights-compliant implementation of the Pact.