The Asylum Agency should provide Member States with the necessary operational and technical assistance in the application of this Regulation, in particular by providing experts to assist national authorities to receive and register applications for international protection and to assist the determining authority in the performance of its tasks including as regards the examination of applications for international protection and by providing updated information and analysis on third countries, including country of origin information and guidance on the situation in specific countries of origin. When applying this Regulation, Member States should take into account operational standards, indicators, guidelines and best practices developed by the Asylum Agency.