PURPOSE: to conclude the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2014/301/EU on the conclusion of the Arrangement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with Council Decision 2014/204/EU, the Arrangement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office was signed on 19 March 2014, subject to its conclusion.

It is now necessary to approve the Arrangement on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: with this Decision, the Council, following the European Parliament’s consent, approves on behalf of the EU, the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

Main provisions of the Arrangement: the Arrangement provides for:

• the full participation of Norway in the activities of the Support Office,
• representation in the Support Office's Management Board as an observer and without voting rights,
• annual financial contributions of Norway, to the budget of the Support Office by an annual sum calculated in accordance with its GDP as a percentage of GDP of all States participating in the Support Office's work. Norway accepted provisions concerning a possible increased contribution if the Union contribution is increased.

Institutional provisions: the Arrangement foresees the establishment of a committee composed of representatives of the Commission and of the associate countries. For reasons of efficiency, this committee shall meet jointly with the corresponding Committees set up with other associated countries participating on the basis of Article 49 (1) of the Regulation. The committee was not mentioned in the negotiating directives and has been requested by the associate countries in order to allow for an exchange of information and monitor the proper implementation of the Arrangement.

Financial contribution: Norway shall contribute to the revenue of the Support Office an annual sum calculated in accordance with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a percentage of the GDP of all participating States in accordance with the formula described in the Arrangement.

Support Office Staff Regulation: the Staff Regulations of the European Union should apply to nationals of Norway recruited as staff members by the Support Office. Norway shall apply to the Support Office and to its staff the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union as well as any rules adopted pursuant to this Protocol relating to staff matters of the Support Office. These are set out in Annex II of the Arrangement.

Territorial measures: Denmark shall not participate in this Decision.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 19.05.2014. The date of entry into force of the Arrangement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

The European Parliament adopted by 529 votes to 12, with 3 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Arrangement between the European Union and Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Arrangement.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs unanimously adopted the report by Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT) on the draft Council decision on the conclusion of the Arrangement between the European Union and Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

The committee called on the European Parliament to give its consent to the conclusion of the Arrangement.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Arrangement between the EU and Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: the Arrangement between the European Union and Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office was signed, subject to its conclusion.

It is now necessary to approve the Arrangement on behalf of the European Union.

LEGAL BASIS: Article 74 and Article 78 (1) and (2), in conjunction with point (a) of Article 218 (6) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

CONTENT: this proposed Decision invites the Council to approve, on behalf of the European Union, the Arrangement between the EU and Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

Main provisions of the Arrangement: the draft Arrangement provides for:

• the full participation of Norway in the activities of the Support Office,
• representation in the Support Office's Management Board as an observer and without voting rights,
• annual financial contributions of Norway, to the budget of the Support Office by an annual sum calculated in accordance with its GDP as a percentage of GDP of all States participating in the Support Office's work. Norway accepted provisions concerning a possible increased contribution if the Union contribution is increased.

Territorial provisions: the United Kingdom and Ireland shall participate in the Decision. Denmark, on the other hand, shall not take part in this Decision.

For further details as regards the provisions of this Arrangement and its impact on the Union budget, please refer to the proposal of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 10/12/2013.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 established the European Asylum Support Office to strengthen practical cooperation between Member States on asylum, enhance the implementation of the Common European Asylum System and support Member States whose asylum and reception systems are under particular pressure.

Accordingly, Article 49 (1) of the Regulation stipulates that the Support Office shall be open to the participation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as observers.

Arrangements shall be made, specifying in particular the nature, extent and manner in which those countries are to participate in the Support Office's work.

The participation of associate countries in the Support Office's work is not only a logical step, having regard to their association to the Dublin system, but also has a clear added value to the Support Office's support offer such as:

• the exchange of best practices and expertise,
• the Support Office's permanent and emergency support,
• the Support Office's information gathering and analysis,
• the Support Office's early warning and preparedness system.

On that basis the Commission presented on 1 July 2011, a recommendation to the Council in order to authorise the Commission to open negotiations with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on international agreements establishing such arrangements.

The Commission received the Council authorisation to open negotiations with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on arrangements on the modalities of these countries' participation in EASO on 27 January 2012.

The negotiations were held jointly with all associate countries. Four rounds of negotiations took place. The final text of the draft Arrangement with Norway was initialled on 28 June 2013.

It is now necessary to approve the Arrangement on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: with this proposed Decision, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

Main provisions of the Arrangement: the draft Arrangement foresees:

• the full participation of Norway in the activities of the Support Office,
• representation in the Support Office's Management Board as an observer and without voting rights,
• annual financial contributions of Norway, to the budget of the Support Office by an annual sum calculated in accordance with its GDP as a percentage of GDP of all States participating in the Support Office's work. Norway accepted provisions concerning a possible increased contribution if the Union contribution is increased.

Institutional provisions: the draft Arrangement foresees the establishment of a committee composed of representatives of the Commission and of the associate countries. For reasons of efficiency, this committee shall meet jointly with the corresponding Committees set up with other associated countries participating on the basis of Article 49 (1) of the Regulation. The committee was not mentioned in the negotiating directives and has been requested by the associate countries in order to allow for an exchange of information and monitor the proper implementation of the Arrangement.

Financial contribution: Norway shall contribute to the revenue of the Support Office an annual sum calculated in accordance with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a percentage of the GDP of all participating States in accordance with the formula described in Annex I of the draft Arrangement.

Staff of the Support Office: the Staff Regulations of the European Union should apply to nationals of Norway recruited as staff members by the Support Office. Norway shall apply to the Support Office and to its staff the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union as well as any rules adopted pursuant to this Protocol relating to staff matters of the Support Office.

PURPOSE: to conclude the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act. 

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 439/2010 established the European Asylum Support Office to strengthen practical cooperation between Member States on asylum, enhance the implementation of the Common European Asylum System and support Member States whose asylum and reception systems are under particular pressure.

Accordingly, Article 49 (1) of the Regulation stipulates that the Support Office shall be open to the participation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland as observers.

Arrangements shall be made, specifying in particular the nature, extent and manner in which those countries are to participate in the Support Office's work.

The participation of associate countries in the Support Office's work is not only a logical step, having regard to their association to the Dublin system, but also has a clear added value to the Support Office's support offer such as:

• the exchange of best practices and expertise,
• the Support Office's permanent and emergency support,
• the Support Office's information gathering and analysis,
• the Support Office's early warning and preparedness system.

On that basis the Commission presented on 1 July 2011, a recommendation to the Council in order to authorise the Commission to open negotiations with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on international agreements establishing such arrangements.

The Commission received the Council authorisation to open negotiations with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein on arrangements on the modalities of these countries’ participation in EASO on 27 January 2012.

The negotiations were held jointly with all associate countries. Four rounds of negotiations took place. The final text of the draft Arrangement with Norway was initialled on 28 June 2013.

It is now necessary to approve the Arrangement on behalf of the European Union.

CONTENT: with this proposed Decision, the Council is called upon to approve, on behalf of the Union, the Arrangement with Norway on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office.

Main provisions of the Arrangement: the draft Arrangement foresees:

• the full participation of Norway in the activities of the Support Office,
• representation in the Support Office's Management Board as an observer and without voting rights,
• annual financial contributions of Norway, to the budget of the Support Office by an annual sum calculated in accordance with its GDP as a percentage of GDP of all States participating in the Support Office's work. Norway accepted provisions concerning a possible increased contribution if the Union contribution is increased.

Institutional provisions: the draft Arrangement foresees the establishment of a committee composed of representatives of the Commission and of the associate countries. For reasons of efficiency, this committee shall meet jointly with the corresponding Committees set up with other associated countries participating on the basis of Article 49 (1) of the Regulation. The committee was not mentioned in the negotiating directives and has been requested by the associate countries in order to allow for an exchange of information and monitor the proper implementation of the Arrangement.

Financial contribution: Norway shall contribute to the revenue of the Support Office an annual sum calculated in accordance with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a percentage of the GDP of all participating States in accordance with the formula described in Annex I of the draft Arrangement.

Staff of the Support Office: the Staff Regulations of the European Union should apply to nationals of Norway recruited as staff members by the Support Office. Norway shall apply to the Support Office and to its staff the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union as well as any rules adopted pursuant to this Protocol relating to staff matters of the Support Office.