4.16.2. Reception for resettled refugees
The reception phase for resettled refugees begins upon arrival to the country of resettlement. The arrangements and services which are provided differ from one country to another. In terms of national developments in 2021, a new integration centre was opened in Sisak, Croatia by the Civil Rights Project Sisak (CRP Sisak) to host resettled refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection (see Section 4.14).
The French government approved an instruction (missing hyperlink) with guidelines on reception policies for resettled refugees in February 2021. This document, targeting the hosting regions and local actors, presented the guidelines for the year (national objectives, financial resources, governance system) and established the division of responsibilities for the reception of resettled refugees between central and local administrations and funded organisations, the regional distribution and the monthly calendar for 2021 arrivals.
With AMIF funding of about EUR 7.5 million, 17 projects were selected by the Finnish government to develop its asylum system in different aspects. One project aims to support the refugee quota programme, focusing in particular on refugees with special needs, supporting mental health, rehabilitation from war trauma, reinforcing paths to working life and organising cultural orientation training.
Reception capacity in some EU+ countries was limited due to social distancing measures and avoiding overcrowded centres. For example, Belgium paused all transfers of selected refugees, while in Switzerland, resettled refugees were temporarily hosted in cantonal reception facilities in the cities of Zurich and Berne due to a lack of accommodation in Swiss federal asylum centres.