|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
In the framework of the custody to secure departure (Ausreisegewahrsam), it was clarified that the risk of absconding is not a determining criteria. A person can be placed in custody to secure departure when the deadline for leaving the country has expired by more than 30 days. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Labour market tests are no longer applied for the employment of foreigners whose removal has been suspended or applicants who have a permission to stay pending the asylum decision. |
DE LEG 05 2019 |
|
Italy |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
A new security decree adopted by the Council of Ministers stated that boats suspected of facilitating irregular migration may be refused entry into Italian ports and boats violating the ban could face substantial fines and be seized by the authorities. |
IT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Austria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
An amendment to the Integration Act requires the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs to provide German courses to a minimum B1 level to beneficiaries of international protection older than 15 years. |
AT LEG 04 2019 |
|
Czech Republic |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The time limit for the accelerated procedure for international protection was extended from 30 to 90 days. |
CZ LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The decree specifying the conditions to orient applicants to the appropriate authority to lodge an application came into force, which allows as an exception for phone communication with the protection officer for the interview, if neither an in-person nor a video-conference interview is possible with the applicant. |
FR LEG 07 2019 |
|
Ireland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The “National Standards for Accommodation Offered to People in the Protection Process” and a report on direct provision from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality were published. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Slovakia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
The Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior issued the guideline, “Procedure of the Provision of Interpretation and Translation Services in the Domain of the Migration Office”. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
United Kingdom |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Home Office amended its guidance on assessing the ages of asylum claimants who have no valid documentary evidence of age and where their claims to be children are doubted. This included the specification that a person being assessed on their physical appearance and demeanour must appear to be at least 25 years or older to be treated as an adult. Prior to this amendment, a person needed to appear to be significantly older than 18 years to allow an assessment of age. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The CGRS updated its guide for unaccompanied minors applying for international protection and published two new guides on accompanied children’s right to be heard in the asylum procedure (one for children, one for parents or guardians). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Czech Republic |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new reception centre in B?lá pod Bezd?zem, with 186 places, was opened. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
France |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
42 full-time equivalent positions were created and 1 200 contractor work-months were allocated to the préfectures to decrease the waiting times for appointments at the one-stop services (GUDA, Guichet unique pour demandeurs d'asile). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Austria |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Austria continued to focus on the labour market integration of beneficiaries of international protection, organised targeted employment fairs and mentoring programmes specifically tailored to migrant women. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Estonia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board started to issue “three in one” decisions combining a negative decision on an asylum application, a return decision and a decision to impose a prohibition to entry. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Italy |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies launched a project, Protezione Unita a Obiettivo Integrazione, which provided effective pathways to the labour market for beneficiaries of international protection, persons with humanitarian status or persons who entered the country as unaccompanied minors. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Netherlands |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
An amendment of the Dutch Aliens Act (Vw, Vreemdelingenwet), Article 50a, permitted applicants or Dublin claimants, who are legally residing after a decision on the asylum application and awaiting a Dublin transfer, to be stopped, transferred to a place to be questioned and kept in custody for a maximum of six hours if needed to assess whether detention is necessary in the framework of the Dublin procedure. |
NL LEG 01 2019 |
|
Sweden |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
Persons born in Sweden and having been stateless since birth may receive under certain conditions a permanent residence permit. |
SE LEG 01 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
Access to procedure |
The Migration Department became the main institution for migration-related activities. The functions related to asylum procedures, previously performed by police units, were transferred to the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service (SBGS). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The possibility was extended to place a foreigner in custody to secure removal (Sicherungshaft), with the objective to prevent absconding. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The act clarified that this rule also applies to unaccompanied minors who reach the age of majority. |
DE LEG 05 2019 |
|
Hungary |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Hungarian Government extended the time limit of Government Decree 41/2016 (III. 9.) stating that there was a continued state of crisis caused by mass migration. |
HU LEG 02 2019 |
|
Austria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The federal government and the provinces concluded an agreement to harmonise the child and youth welfare system in general, defining the responsibilities of the provinces in providing care and support to unaccompanied minors. |
AT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Applicants for international protection may have access to the labour market in an extended number of occupations. |
CY LEG 02 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
A new database (AEM, Appui à l’évaluation de minorité) was created, providing support from central state authorities to the départements in carrying out age assessments. |
FR LEG 04 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new type of beneficiary group was established, referring to applicants in reception centres who are presumed to form a community with synergies in benefits, hence these applicants are now entitled to a lower level of benefits. |
DE LEG 02 2019 |