The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has announced that the agency has signed an operational plan with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania in order to help the latter with the displaced Ukrainian nationals who have fled their country due to the ongoing war.
According to EUAA, the operational plan foresees the gradual deployment of up to 120 EUAA personnel and interpreters to Romania. It has been explained that the deployment comes at the request of the Romanian authorities as the country’s asylum system has come under disproportionate pressure due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
EUAA has revealed that the signing of the operational plan follows the conclusions of several visits made to border crossing points and reception facilities bordering Ukraine by the Agency’s First Response Unit.
The assessment of the situation was initiated at the request of the Romanian General Inspectorate for Immigration, and the plan was co-signed by EUAA Executive Director Nina Gregori and the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs, Lucian Nicolae Bode.
Commenting on the agreement, Gregori said that EUAA would assist the Romanian authorities in implementing the Temporary Protection Directive.
“The invasion of Ukraine has displaced over 3.8 million people so far. Romania, together with several other neighbouring Member States, has shown what is best about the European Union. We will assist the national authorities in implementing the never-before-used Temporary Protection Directive in this first operational deployment under our new EUAA mandate. Together with all EU partners, we remain fully engaged in the Union’s strong and united response to the war in Ukraine,” the statement of Gregori reads.
During the first phase of this operation, EUAA has said that the agency will provide support with registering applicants who enter Romania for temporary protections. The same will also provide Ukrainian national and long-term residents with information on their rights as a protected class.
In addition to the above-mentioned, EUAA will also provide crucial training and support regarding the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive. This means that the deployments to Romania will cover multiple actions and will mainly benefit the national asylum system.
Taking into account the temporary nature of the status provided by the Temporary Protection Directive, EUAA will also work closely with the Romanian authorities to ensure they have the capacity to handle the high number of asylum applicants when the relevant Council Decision expires.
SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info
