3.4.1. Re-organisation of first instance authorities

To enhance the effectiveness of asylum systems, in 2023 EU+ countries undertook re-organisations by creating completely new determining authorities, by merging several offices in the same institution to unify their strategy on asylum or by structuring departments according to types of asylum procedures to allow faster processing of cases.

The CGRS in Belgium created the START section, where all newly-recruited case officers will receive 6 weeks of standard training curriculum, followed by on the job training, before full integration into existing sections or units.

In Cyprus, the Ministry of the Interior published a draft bill in May 2023, proposing the establishment of a Deputy Ministry of Migration and Asylum which would place under a single institution the drawing up and implementation of an integrated strategy for migration and asylum.392  

Denmark decided that the Office for Reception of Asylum Seekers will be included in the Centre for Asylum of the Danish Immigration Service as of 1 January 2024. In Finland, the Immigration Service was in the process of re-organisation until April 2024 to become more efficient and customer-friendly.393  

Poland re-organised its Department of Refugee Proceedings at the Office for Foreigners according to the type of procedure to which cases are assigned, which allows for faster processing of cases.

In Portugal, the new Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) started operating on 29 October 2023, taking over some of the competences of the SEF and the High Commission for Migration. The change led to the separation of police and administrative functions. AIMA is mandated – amongst other tasks – to receive and process applications for international protection and ensure reception conditions are in accordance with the law.394  

By Royal Decree No 1009/2023 of 5 December 2023, which established the structure of the ministerial departments, Spain created the new Directorate-General for International Protection, which will include the Asylum and Refugee Office.395