It is necessary that decisions on applications for international protection be taken by authorities whose staff have appropriate knowledge and have received adequate training, including the relevant training of the Asylum Agency, in the relevant standards applicable in the field of asylum and refugee law, and that they perform their activities with due respect for the applicable ethical principles. That should apply to the staff of authorities from other Member States and experts deployed by the Asylum Agency to assist the determining authority of a Member State in the examination of applications for international protection.