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Creation of local or regional networks of immigration liaison officers

1. Immigration liaison officers deployed to the same countries or regions shall constitute local or regional cooperation networks and cooperate, where and when appropriate, with liaison officers deployed by countries other than Member States. Within the framework of such networks, immigration liaison officers shall in accordance with Article 1(2), in particular:

(a) meet regularly and whenever necessary;

(b) exchange information and practical experience, in particular at meetings and via the secure web-based information exchange platform provided for in Article 9;

(c) exchange information, where appropriate, on experience regarding access to international protection;

(d) coordinate positions to be adopted in contacts with commercial carriers, where appropriate;

(e) attend joint specialised training courses, when appropriate, including on fundamental rights, trafficking in human beings, smuggling of migrants, document fraud or access to international protection in third countries;

(f) organise information sessions and training courses for members of the diplomatic and consular staff of the missions of the Member States in the third country, when appropriate;

(g) adopt common approaches on methods for the collection and reporting of strategically relevant information, including risk analyses;

(h) set up regular contacts with similar networks in the third country and in neighbouring third countries, as appropriate.

2. Immigration liaison officers deployed by the Commission shall facilitate and support the networks provided for in paragraph 1. In locations where the Commission does not deploy immigration liaison officers, immigration liaison officers deployed by Union agencies shall facilitate and support the networks provided for in paragraph 1. In locations where neither the Commission nor Union agencies deploy immigration liaison officers, the network shall be facilitated by an immigration liaison officer, as agreed by members of the network.

3. The Steering Board shall be notified without undue delay of the appointment of the designated network facilitator or where no facilitator is designated.