|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The law on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was amended, formalising the practice that the Ombudsperson can visit freely, unhindered and unannounced any detention facility. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
France |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Legislative amendments introduced the possibility of refusing or withdrawing refugee status from third-country nationals convicted of public support of an act of terrorism. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Latvia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Latvia reduced the waiting period for applicants to legally work from 6 months to 3 months. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Malta |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Minor Protection (Alternative Care) Act was amended in 2021 to avoid the potential conflict of interest that was embedded in the previous practice, when social workers and guardians belonged to the same institution. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA) introduced the right to appeal a decision of the Administrative Court before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court must decide on the appeal within 30 days. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
All new residence permits became temporary, with the exception of resettled refugees. Permanent residence can be obtained after a minimum of 3 years in the country, and as a general rule, adults applying have to be able to support themselves and their dependant relatives and have decent housing. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was revised and Ukraine was removed from the list. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A draft decree would revise and shorten the Dutch regular asylum procedure from 8 days to 6 days. The draft underwent a public consultation process by the end of November 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The government put a legislative proposal to consultation on the comprehensive reform of integration. The new system would increase the responsibility of municipalities in the integration process. The programme would include an exam in the Finnish or Swedish language. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Norway |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Norwegian parliament passed a bill amending the Social Services Act, which requires third-country nationals older than 30 years with insufficient Norwegian knowledge to participate in language training as a condition to receive financial support. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A bill proposed to oblige the Asylum Service to obtain a health care professional’s advice for an applicant’s ability to be interviewed. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to Ordinance 1 on asylum settles the implementation rules for video surveillance in federal reception centres. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The state of emergency was extended at the Latvian-Belarusian border. Applicants can only submit applications for international protection at official border crossing points or detention facilities. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Ireland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Certain tasks of the Minister for Justice and Equality were transferred to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, including the coordination of the national integration policy, the International Protection Accommodation Services, the International Protection Procurement Services and giving permission to enter and stay in the country for resettlement or temporary protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The New Civic Integration Law entered into force, where newcomers under an integration obligation are guided through the process by municipalities. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
The National Commission for Asylum in Italy was considering adding new criteria into public tenders to ensure that interpreters have a suitable level of comprehension of the Italian language. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Slovakia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
A new legal provision was adopted to provide for the suspension of a transfer decision when a third-country national under the Dublin procedure absconds. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limit for lodging an appeal against a decision in the accelerated procedure was reduced to 7 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Legislation was amended to allow for detention at the border for up to 3 days without a judicial review and without a written order. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Malta |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Refugee Appeals Board changed its name to International Protection Appeals Tribunal. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A Registry of Rapporteurs and Assistants for Case Officers in Asylum was created. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Hungary |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
A new section and a new Article 32/Z was added to the Asylum Law: This allows the NDGAP to confiscate any object (for example, mobile phones, laptops) when the facts cannot be clarified otherwise, there would be a significant delay in clarifying the facts without confiscation or not seizing the object would jeopardise the success of the examination procedure. Previously the rules of the General Administrative Law defined the rules for seizure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Iceland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Immigration Appeals Board's rules of procedure were amended, defining practices that have emerged in the past 3 years. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The court has to decide ex officio or at the request of the applicant on the right to stay during an appeal against the rejection of a subsequent application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limits to lodge an appeal against a final decision of the Asylum Service in front of the Administrative Court for International Protection were amended: 30 days for the regular procedure and 15 days for the accelerated procedure. The time limits to launch an appeal against a decision of the International Protection Administrative Court was reduced to 14 days from 42 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |