Today, the European Asylum Support Office launched its first mobile app for smartphones and tablets,
allowing asylum seekers to quickly find information in English and various
non-EU languages (English, Arabic, Sorani, Kumjani and Tigrinya) about the EU
Relocation Programme, their rights and obligations when applying, contact
points and more.
The app is the latest initiative in the implementation of
EASO’s integrated information and communication campaign on relocation. With
the app, EASO aims to promote relocation as the only safe and legal way from
Greece and Italy to other EU Member States. The EU Relocation Programme app can
be downloaded from the AppStore and Google Play.
Available to download free of
charge by IoS and Android smartphone users, the app provides clear, concise and
up-to-date information about the relocation scheme, the procedure, and the role
of EASO in the relocation process. It boasts a simple and user-friendly
interface and incorporates a section with FAQ for asylum seekers to find out,
among others, whether they are eligible for relocation, which countries they
can get relocated to, why they are getting fingerprinted, and much other
practical information related to relocation.
Other features include an
interactive map with GPS localisation, thanks to which asylum seekers with a
smartphone can now easily find the nearest-by hotspots in Greece and Italy
where they can get registered for international protection or get in touch with
EASO experts who can assist them further. In addition, the app will allow users
to watch videos in which people who have been successfully relocated share their
stories.
Jose Carreira, EASO’s
Executive Director, said: “We’re very excited and proud about the
launch of this app. We noticed that many are equipped with Smartphones in the
hotspots. Smartphones have revolutionised the way everyone works and EASO here
shows that it has adopted modern communication tools which are most suited for
our specific audience. The launch of our app marks a milestone in the outreach
activities of EASO, as we are now fully equipped to provide updated information
to people in need of international protection regardless of where they have
arrived in Italy or Greece. The app reinforces our identity as a progressive,
innovative agency, ready for the transformation into a fully-fledged European
Agency for Asylum in the near future.”
Whether it is information in
English, Arabic, Sorani, Kumjani or Tigrinya, the four language versions of the
app cater for asylum seekers from a wide geographical area. With the app, it
becomes easier than ever for refugees on route to search for contacts, hotlines
and emergency numbers of EASO. The key objective of the new mobile app, apart
from providing information, is to build trust in the relocation programme and
to discourage asylum seekers from travelling in illegal ways from Greece or
Italy to other EU Member States. With this app, EASO also hopes to ease
information sharing in order to pre-empt confusion, unrealistic expectations,
and frustration amongst refugees about unavailability of information.
Background
The EU Relocation Programme
was established in two Council Decisions in September 2015, in which Member
States committed to relocate 160,000 people from Italy and Greece (and if
relevant from other Member States) by September 2017. EASO is contributing to
the Relocation process from Italy and Greece with experts deployed in both
countries to support the national asylum services.
In February 2016, upon request
of the EASO Management Board, which comprises representatives of EU Member
States, Associate Countries, the European Commission and UNHCR, EASO came up
with a comprehensive communication plan to promote and support the relocation
mechanism. After an information leaflet on relocation, pop-up stands, posters,
info packs and child-friendly material on relocation, the app is just the
latest of information tools produced by EASO as a direct response to the
information needs of asylum seekers who are located in Greece and Italy and who
want to be relocated to another EU Member State. Given that a majority of
refugees use smartphones, the mobile app is a most appropriate channel to
provide information and refer to more comprehensive information on the EASO
website and social media.
More information
Download the Relocation app
Any further information on
EASO may be obtained by contacting Mr. Jean-Pierre Schembri on the
following e-mail address: jean-pierre.schembri@easo.europa.eu (follow us live on
twitter @EASO).
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