2022 was an extremely challenging year for reception authorities in EU+ countries, which experienced a rise in the number of applicants for international protection and received millions of persons in need of temporary protection – and thus, of shelter and accommodation. The main issue remained the lack of sufficient places, even though Member States continued to significantly invest in increasing reception capacity. Some countries surpassed all previous capacity records, but this still was not enough to offer adequate accommodation for all applicants. The challenges were multifaceted and included, for example, inadequate funding and issues with collaborating with municipalities. Only Nordic countries and a few transit countries (from where applicants often move towards another EU+ country) did not report issues with capacity.

Member States explored different ways to address the issue. Some reached out to new stakeholders to strengthen the reception system, for example, through the closer involvement of civil society organisations, municipal actors, disaster management or private actors. Among 13 operating plans in 2022, the EUAA assisted to enhance the reception system for 10 countries, increase the integrity of the asylum procedure (see Section 4.2) or its efficiency (see Sections 4.3 and 4.4). Some measures which were implemented by national authorities, for example limitations on family reunification, are currently being scrutinised by the courts.

Reception conditions deteriorated in overcrowded centres and led to sub-standard conditions in many EU+ countries, as widely documented by civil society organisations. Courts stepped in to reiterate the obligations of Member States. The European Commission sent letters of formal notice to several countries for failing to properly transpose the recast RCD.

As the focus remained on immediate needs, such as finding enough reception places and ensuring adequate living conditions, less initiatives seemed to have been implemented to facilitate applicants’ entry into employment, orientation in the new society or accessing education and health care. National authorities tried, but sometimes struggled, to ensure at least the basic services.

In these circumstances, the European Parliament’s rapporteur of the revised RCD noted that the agreement reached in December 2022 between the European Parliament and the Council on the legislative proposal was a breakthrough that can ensure high and consistent reception standards.530