|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
In order to fill gaps in labour market shortages caused by the pandemic, applicants were exceptionally exempted from the 4-month waiting period until 30 June 2020. In view of the continuing shortage of workers in some sectors due to the closing of the borders, this measure was resumed from December 2020 until 30 June 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
When a subsequent application is deemed to be inadmissible, the appeal needs to be lodged within 15 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The administrative court may order an applicant's detention without the descriptive and reasoning part when it is faced with a high number of detention requests. These parts are provided to the applicant if the detention decision is contested. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The Aliens Circular was amended to clarify that an age assessment takes place in two separate sessions, one with the AVIM and one with the IND. Employees of the same public authority assess the age independently, but they can attend the same assessment session. |
NL LEG 05 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to information |
The Asylum Act was complemented with Article 12a, which regulates the modalities of BAMF counselling on asylum procedures for applicants. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Greece |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Greece adopted a list of 12 safe countries of origin: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Georgia, Ghana, India, Morocco, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, The Gambia and Ukraine. |
EL LEG 04 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Migration Department took over some tasks from the police and, for example, applicants can now lodge an application directly with the institution rather than the police. The initial interview with the applicant is obligatorily recorded (video or audio) and attached to the personal file. The department can now also issue a Certificate of Acceptance of an Application for Asylum, confirming an applicant’s status and serving as a Foreigners’ Registration Certificate, pending the issuance of the latter. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
An amendment to the Law on Foreigners stated that stateless persons who do not meet the requirements for permanent or long-term residence may obtain permission for a one-year prolonged stay. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
An amendment to the Aliens Act defined the criteria for subsequent applications. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The budget of CNDA continued to be increased to reduce the length of procedures at second instance. |
FR LEG 13 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Amendments to the Law on Foreigners provide for a temporary automatic suspensive effect of an appeal against an expulsion order based on national-security grounds, containing “substantiated allegations” of important risk of death or ill treatment in the destination country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The Smart Border package was submitted to the parliament, bringing new technological means of processing at the border, concerning specifically the Aliens Act and other relevant legislative provisions. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Law No 4825/2021 adjusted some of the provisions related to the delivery of travel documents to beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens clarified the scope of free legal assistance as covering solely asylum procedures at the national level and thus excluding cases submitted before European courts. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovakia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
A draft amendment to the Asylum Act and other related acts was adopted and put to public consultation, listing services available to asylum applicants. The amendments are expected to enter into force in June 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A Royal Decree was introduced to facilitate the process of granting residence and work permits for unaccompanied children in Spain. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Austria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
New rules on orientation courses entered into force, including the extension of the obligatory orientation course from 1 to 3 days and the inclusion of modules on gender equality, antisemitism and the importance of voluntary work. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Amendments were made to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens. In a state of emergency, border guards are allowed to return persons entering in an unauthorised manner without an individual decision. Applications for international protection can be submitted only at designated locations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The grounds were extended for placing an unaccompanied minor in detention for the purpose of return. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Germany |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The draft of the Second Law for the Introduction of a Right of Opportunity to Stay proposed to make language and integration courses available for all applicants, regardless of their prospects of staying in the country |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Spain |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
In 2020, the Secretary of State for Migration introduced changes granting access to work permits for unaccompanied children aged older than 16 years. In addition, the government announced a reform allowing permission to stay based on their integration path rather than on their participation in the labour market. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Iceland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Iceland revised its list of safe countries of origin and Ukraine was removed from the list. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The possibility to impose a travel ban is planned to be extended to persons with temporary admission. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners aimed to speed up the appointment of a legal guardian for an unaccompanied minor, due to the influx of unaccompanied minors from Ukraine. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A decree law aimed to regularise different residence and employment situations, including the irregular employment of applicants in agriculture, husbandry, fishing, personal assistance services and domestic work. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |