The European Asylum Support Office was working on an early warning system detecting situations that could lead to “particular asylum pressures”, its executive director, Robert Visser, said yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration of its new premises in Marsa, Dr Visser said that, although it had only been operational for a year, the agency already played an important role in establishing a common European asylum system.

It provided Greece and Luxembourg with emergency support when they experienced “particular pressure” on their asylum system and set up a consultative forum to exchange information and knowledge between EASO and civil society organisations.

Situated next to Transport Malta’s centre, overlooking the Grand Harbour in Xatt l-Għassara tal-Għeneb, the EASO offices cover an area of about 3,700 square metres spread on four floors.

The office was set up to enhance “practical cooperation on asylum matters and help member states fulfil their EU and international obligations to give protection to people in need,” Dr Visser explained.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said EASO had an important role o play in establishing a common asylum system that was based on shared responsibilities.

“It is important to point out that, in recent years, the EU has made giant steps in the area of sharing common responsibilities in the European asylum system,” he said.

Setting up EASO “is an expression of Europe’s commitment of establishing such a system, based on shared responsibilities”.

It was no coincidence that in November 2009 the EU Council of Ministers “unanimously decided” the office should be based in Malta.

This decision was based on the work of the Maltese Government to ensure that “Malta had the best bid and offered the best possible infrastructure for the agency to operate”, Dr Gonzi said.

In a recorded message, European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the EU was close to finalising a common asylum package, which could possibly be concluded by the end of this year.

This would send a strong political message, bringing EU countries together in terms of collective responsibility on a sensitive and important issue, she said.

Both Dr Visser and Dr Gonzi warmly thanked former Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Malta’s former Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, both present at the inauguration, for their work and contribution towards the setting up of the office.