On 12-14 February, Stephanie Krisper (Austria, ALDE), PACE Rapporteur and Member of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, made a fact-finding visit to the EU institutions in Brussels in the context of her forthcoming report on "Ensuring human rights compliant asylum procedures". She met with Esther Pozo-Vera, Head of the Asylum Unit at DG HOME, Catherine Roger, Head of the JHA Secretariat at the Council of the EU, with Tineke Strik, Member of the European Parliament and former member of PACE, and with the EP rapporteurs on asylum-related issues in the EU Pact, namely Fabienne Keller - Rapporteur on the Asylum Procedures Regulation, Brigit Sippel - Rapporteur on the Screening Regulation and Juan Fernando Lopez-Aguilar - Rapporteur on the Crisis Regulation.

These meetings helped to lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation between the EU and the Council of Europe on the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, once adopted, in a human rights compliant manner. As confirmed by all interlocutors, including the UNHCR office in Brussels, much of the implementation of the Pact, such as many important fundamental rights safeguards, will depend heavily on the ability of EU states to provide resources for effective preventive and monitoring mechanisms, as well as effective remedies.

Ms Krisper's report is expected to be discussed at the June 2024 session of the Parliamentary Assembly.