FantasticSearch

1. Without entering into the merits of return decisions, which remain the sole responsibility of the Member States, and in accordance with the respect for fundamental rights, general principles of Union law and international law, including international protection, the respect for the principle of non-refoulement and children's rights, with regard to return, the Agency shall:

(a) provide technical and operational assistance to Member States in the area of return, including in:

(i) the collection of information necessary for issuing return decisions, the identification of third-country nationals subject to return procedures and other pre-return, return-related and post-arrival and post-return activities of the Member States, to achieve an integrated system of return management among competent authorities of the Member States, with the participation of relevant authorities of third countries and other relevant stakeholders;

(ii) the acquisition of travel documents, including by means of consular cooperation, without disclosing information relating to the fact that an application for international protection has been made or any other information that is not necessary for the purpose of the return;

(iii) the organisation and coordination of return operations and provide assistance in relation to voluntary returns in cooperation with the Member States;

(iv) assisted voluntary returns from the Member States, providing assistance to returnees during the pre-return, return-related and post-arrival and post-return phases, taking into account the needs of vulnerable persons;

(b) provide technical and operational assistance to Member States experiencing challenges with regard to their return systems;

(c) develop, in consultation with the fundamental rights officer, a non-binding reference model for national IT systems for return case management which describes the structure of such systems, as well as provide technical and operational assistance to Member States in developing such systems compatible with the model;

(d) operate and further develop an integrated return management platform and a communication infrastructure that enables the linking of the return management systems of the Member States with the platform for the purpose of exchanging data and information, including the automated transmission of statistical data, and provide technical and operational assistance to Member States in connecting to the communication infrastructure;

(e) organise, promote and coordinate activities enabling the exchange of information and the identification and pooling of best practices in return matters between the Member States;

(f) finance or co-finance from its budget, in accordance with the financial rules applicable to the Agency, the operations, interventions and activities referred to in this Chapter, including reimbursing the costs incurred for the necessary adaptation of the national IT systems for return case management for the purpose of ensuring secure communication to the integrated return management platform.

2. The technical and operational assistance referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall include activities to help Member States carry out return procedures by the competent national authorities by providing, in particular:

(a) interpreting services;

(b) practical information, including the analysis of such information, and recommendations by the Agency on third countries of return relevant for the implementation of this Regulation, in cooperation, where appropriate, with other Union bodies, offices and agencies, in particular EASO;

(c) advice on the implementation and management of return procedures in compliance with Directive 2008/115/EC;

(d) advice on and assistance in the implementation of measures taken by Member States in compliance with Directive 2008/115/EC and international law that are necessary to ensure the availability of returnees for return purposes and to prevent returnees from absconding and advice on and assistance in relation to alternatives to detention;

(e) equipment, resources and expertise for the implementation of return decisions and for the identification of third-country nationals.

3. The Agency shall aim at building synergies and connecting Union-funded networks and programmes in the field of return in close cooperation with the Commission and with the support of relevant stakeholders, including the European Migration Network.