4.7.2.2. Adapting reception systems
The exceptional situation in reception prompted several national administrations to continue with the adaptation of their reception model and the implementation of the reception pathway. Proposals were made for adjusting multiannual strategies and objectives, as well as to make funding available in a more flexible manner. As more people were in need of reception, than foreseen at the beginning of 2022, funding for reception was significantly increased through additional budgets in several countries. The arrival of persons in need of temporary protection also prompted the need to revise and update existing asylum and reception contingency plans, for example in Slovenia and Slovakia.Ministry of the Interior | Ministerstvo vnútra. Vláda schválila kontingenčný plán pre prípad nárastu počtov osôb prichádzajúcich z vojnou postihnutých krajín [Government approves contingency plan for increase in arrivals from war-affected countries]. https://www.minv.sk/?tlacove-spravy&sprava=vlada-schvalila-kontingencny…
The concept for a new reception and accommodation model (the idea of creating a new model) was approved in Lithuania, and the Ministry of the Interior started the preparations for the necessary legislation. Under the model, the SBGS and the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior retain functions related to the identification of applicants, the international protection procedure, detention and return. Tasks related to the accommodation of applicants, health checks, interpretation services and psychological support would be transferred to a new entity under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.Ministry of the Interior | Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerija. (2022, May 25). Migrantų priėmimu ir apgyvendinimu rūpinsis viena įstaiga [A single institution will take care of the reception and accommodation of migrants]. https://vrm.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/migrantu-priemimu-ir-apgyvendinimu-rupi…; Ministry of the Interior | Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerija. (2022, January 28). Migrantų apgyvendinimo srityje numatomi sisteminiai pokyčiai [Systemic changes to accommodation for migrants]. https://vrm.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/migrantu-apgyvendinimo-srityje-numatomi…; Ministry of the Interior | Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerija. (2022, February 15). Su nevyriausybinėmis organizacijomis aptartos migracijos krizės pamokos [Lessons from the migration crisis discussed with NGOs]. https://vrm.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/su-nevyriausybinemis-organizacijomis-ap…
In March 2022, the Spanish government adopted Royal Decree 220/2022 of 29 March 2022, approving the regulation governing the reception system. The new regulation entered into force on 31 March 2022, establishing an assessment and referral step and a two-phase reception system which adapts benefits and paths to the profile of an applicant – largely similar to the previous system. The legislation clarified that the second phase is only accessible to recognised beneficiaries of international protection. The financing of the reception system was revised to provide more stability for all participating stakeholders. Funding for three organisations (CEAR, Accem and Red Cross) was initially approved to implement international protection programmes, and 24 organisations were authorised to provide reception for applicants for international protection in the beginning of 2023.Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations | Ministerio de Inclusion, Seguridad Social y Migraciones. (2023). Entidades autorizadas [Authorised entities]. https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/migraciones/entidades-autorizadas The regulation also gathered all standards and guidelines that were previously scattered in different legislative pieces.Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones. (2022, March 29). El Ministerio de Inclusión aprueba un reglamento de acogida para reforzar el sistema, mejorar su eficiencia e incrementar su seguridad jurídica [The Ministry of Inclusion approves a reception regulation to reinforce the system, improve its efficiency and increase its legal certainty]. https://www.inclusion.gob.es/en/web/guest/w/el-ministerio-de-inclusion-…; Real Decreto 220/2022, de 29 de marzo, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento por el que se regula el sistema de acogida en materia de protección internacional, BOE-A-2022-4978 [Royal Decree 220/2022 of 29 March approving the Regulation regulating the reception system in the field of international protection, BOE-A-2022-4978], March 30, 2020. https://www.boe.es/eli/es/rd/2022/03/29/220 In further improving the reception of applicants for international protection, CEAR highlighted the positive experience with the management of reception for persons in need of temporary protection and advocated for this model to be extended to all persons seeking protection in Spain.Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid | Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado. (2023). Input to the Asylum Report 2023. https://euaa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2023-02/cear_spanish_commiss… UNHCR also underlined that the one-stop shop approach, through the creation of CREADEs, was a positive development which should be maintained.United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2023, March 21). Los CREADE: la puerta de entrada a España para los refugiados de Ucrania [The CREADE: an entry door to Spain for Ukrainian refugees]. https://www.acnur.org/es-es/noticias/los-creade-la-puerta-de-entrada-es…
For adjusting the reception path, Iceland opened an arrival centre in Reykjavík, where all services are offered in the same facility, including registration by the police, reception interviews, first health inspection and needs analysis for permanent housing. The centre welcomes both applicants for international protection and persons in need of temporary protection.Government of Iceland | Ríkisstjórn Íslands. (2022, April 4). Umsækjendur um alþjóðlega vernd fá alla helstu þjónustu á einum stað [Applicants for international protection receive all the main services in one place]. https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2022/04/04…
A new emergency first-reception centre was established in Luxembourg for applicants for temporary protection, with a capacity of 600 beds. Since September 2022, due to the mass influx of applicants for international protection and persons fleeing the war in Ukraine, the site welcomes both applicants for international protection and people in need of temporary protection.
In Greece, a new legal code was adopted compiling in one legislative document all rules related to reception.Νόμος υπ' αριθμ. 4939/2022, Κύρωση Κώδικα Νομοθεσίας για τηνυποδοχή, τη διεθνή προστασία πολιτών τρίτων χωρών και ανιθαγενών και την προσωρινή προστασία σε περίπτωση μαζικής εισροής εκτοπισθέντων αλλοδαπών, ΦΕΚ Α’ -111/10.6.2022 [Law 4939/2022 on Ratification of Code of Legislation on the reception, international protection of third country citizens and stateless persons and temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons, Gov. Gaz. A'111/10.06.2022), June 10, 2022. https://www.kodiko.gr/nomothesia/document/797068/nomos-4939-2022
The Belgian Fedasil presented its new management plan for the period 2021-2026, defining the organisation’s strategic and operational objectives. The agency aims to develop a sufficiently flexible reception system, based on buffer places, instead of opening and closing centres. The plan also foresees investing in improving the quality of reception, as well as residents’ and employees’ security. Fedasil intends to focus on adapting its internal organisation, for example by improving collaboration across different services, and between the headquarters and reception centres. More emphasis should be put on preparing residents for the life after reception, whether in Belgium or elsewhere.Finnish Immigration Service | Maahanmuuttovirasto. (2022, May 11). Municipalities receive compensation for costs associated with the reception of people who have fled Ukraine. https://migri.fi/-/kunnille-korvataan-ukrainasta-paenneiden-vastaanoton…; European Union Agency for Asylum. (2023). Providing Temporary Protection to Displaced Persons from Ukraine: A Year in Review. https://euaa.europa.eu/publications/providing-temporary-protection-disp… Still, the implementation of this plan met major difficulties due to the crisis that unfolded with the significant lack of reception places.
In the Netherlands, COA updated its Multiannual Strategy 2020-2025 and noted that, due to the current developments, it was unrealistic to assume that all goals would be achieved by 2025. Thus, the strategy was extended with an additional year. The goals were also re-prioritised, and in 2023, the organisation will focus on establishing a stable reception system with small-scale facilities as one of the elements in achieving this, the outflow of recognised beneficiaries of international protection, improving COA’s agility and implementation capacity, and public affairs and stakeholder management.Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers | Centraal Orgaan opvang Asielzoekers. (2023, January 2). Meerjarenstrategie 2020-2025 bijgesteld naar wereldwijde ontwikkelingen [Multiyear strategy 2020-2025 updated to global developments]. https://www.coa.nl/nl/nieuws/meerjarenstrategie-2020-2025-bijgesteld-na…
The Austrian Court of Audit published the results of the special audit of federal reception facilities in January 2022, covering the period 2013 to 2020. The audit recommended changes in the financing and re-negotiation of rental contracts for the opening and closing of facilities. The report also urged the federal government to plan more strategically for an eventual significant increase in the number of applicants in need of reception. Austrian Court of Audit | Rechnungshof Österreich. (2022, January 28). Sonderprüfung: Asylbetreuungseinrichtungen des Bundes [Special audit: federal asylum accommodation and care facilities] https://www.rechnungshof.gv.at/rh/home/news/news/aktuelles/Sonderpruefu…
The arrival of persons in need of temporary protection increased reception costs in many EU+ countries. For example, the SMA in Sweden noted that its administrative costs needed to be increased to cover new recruitments (see Section 4.4) and it estimated that SEK 7 billion was needed to cover increased costs for municipalities and regions during 2023 (see Section 4.14).Swedish Migration Agency | Migrationsverket. (2022, July 29). Utdraget krig i Ukraina ger ökade kostnader för mottagandet [Prolongued war in Ukraine increases reception costs]. https://www.migrationsverket.se/Om-Migrationsverket/Pressrum/Nyhetsarki… The Slovak government approved an increase in the allowance for the accommodation of beneficiaries of temporary protection under the Act on Asylum, which was provided until February 2023.Swedish Migration Agency | Migrationsverket. (2022, July 29). Utdraget krig i Ukraina ger ökade kostnader för mottagandet [Prolongued war in Ukraine increases reception costs]. https://www.migrationsverket.se/Om-Migrationsverket/Pressrum/Nyhetsarki…
