A number of countries launched new procurement procedures following the end of contracts for interpretation. For example, the State Agency for Refugees in Bulgaria issued a call for tender for the provision of interpretation services,⁸⁹⁵ and a new agreement was signed with an external interpretation company in Slovakia. 

As of 1 January 2021, the newly-established BBU is also responsible for interpretation services during the asylum procedure in Austria.⁸⁹⁶ 

Due to an increase in translation and interpretation costs in Luxembourg, the budget was increased by 67% for “Expert, study and translation costs”.

In the Netherlands, a new programme called “Interpreting in the Future” is currently under discussion. It aims to establish a roster of interpreters to widen the pool available for the Ministry of Justice and Security. There would be periodic quality assessments to ensure quality.⁸⁹⁷ In the meanwhile, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service issued new working instructions for officials who work with interpreters.⁸⁹⁸ 

The SEM in Switzerland faced difficulties in obtaining a sufficient number of interpreters in all its regional structures within the tight deadlines of the new asylum law.⁸⁹⁹  

[895]  State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministries | Държавна агенция за бежанците при Министерския Съвет. (2020, February 25). Решение RD05-131/25.02.2020 [Decision RD05-131/25.02.2020]. https://www.profilnakupuvacha.com/uploads/1713/1/174801d7b6fe8c97a762b8cc8dba23d7.pdf
[896]  Federal Ministry for the Interior | Bundesministerium für Inneres. (2020, December 1). Bundesagentur für Betreuungs- und Unterstützungsleistungen startet am 1. Dezember 2020 [The Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services will start on 1 December 2020]. https://bmi.gv.at/news.aspx?id=4B39496B4D4E57542F36383D
[897] Ministry of Justice and Security | Ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid. (2020). TolkTalk [InterpreterTalk]. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuwsbrieven/programma-tolken-in-de-toekomst/2020/01
[898] Immigration and Naturalisation Service | Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst. (2020, April 1). WI 2020/5 (Samen)werken met een tolk [WI 2020/5 Working (together) with an interpreter]. https://ind.nl/Documents/WI_2020-5.pdf
[899] State Secretariat for Migration | Staatssekretariat für Migration | Secrétariat d’État aux migrations | Segreteria di Stato della migrazione. (2020, February 6). Procédures d’asile accélérées : premier bilan [Accelerated asylum procedures: First assessment]. https://www.sem.admin.ch/sem/fr/home/sem/medien/mm.msg-id-78023.html