|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the PBGB must update the list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
A legal counsellor was assigned to the detention centre to ensure legal aid for detainees. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs published guidelines for local governments on integration services. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
An updated version of the register of granting international protection (RAKS2) was launched, including new features that allow the inclusion of data on court procedures and an automated process for receiving country of origin information. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
A new surveillance measure was introduced, the appearing for counselling. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act (OLPEA) came into force, providing for the possibility for the PBGB or the Estonian Internal Security Service to detain third-country nationals for up to 48 hours, without the permission of an administrative court, to carry out identification procedures and to determine whether they are subjected to an obligation to leave the country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
An amendment clarified that the appeal against the rejection and return decision has a suspensive effect. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A proposition was presented to amend the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens by updating the national list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. The duty to notify the European Commission lies with the Ministry of the Interior. |
EE LEG 01 2019 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens allows the PBGB to request assistance from EASO and to be involved in the processing of an asylum application in the territory of another state, based on an international agreement or an EU act. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The first Estonian Language Houses opened in Tallin and Narva in 2019, offering language courses and facilitating integration. The Welcome Centre in Tartu, Estonia opened to provide information and guidance for all newcomers. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Ministry of the Interior launched a project for preparing a series of legislative amendments that would ensure improved management of large-scale arrivals. The Reception Act and the Immigration Detention Act are both planned to be amended. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Several legislative amendments were introduced to prepare for the transfer of responsibility for organising health and social services, including integration services, from municipalities to wellbeing services counties. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Immigration Service announced in February 2023 that gender alone would constitute a sufficient reason to grant international protection to Afghan women and girls. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A temporary amendment was passed to the Aliens Act to extend the period of an applicant's right to work. Applicants were temporarily able to work in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries without a waiting period and they could continue to work in these sectors longer, until they are in the country and receive material reception conditions, despite an enforceable removal decision. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Finnish Immigration Service gave reception centres several operating guidelines, including on health care services, work and study activities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Based on the ECHR judgement in N.A. v. Finland, the Finnish Immigration Service reviewed the cases of around 500 applicants. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A draft government proposal was sent out for comments to amend the Aliens Act provisions on the family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The government submitted a legislative proposal to the parliament to introduce a border procedure that could be triggered by a government decision if an exceptionally large number of migrants arrive in a short period of time or if hybrid activities aiming to exploit migration were directed against Finland. However, the parliament did not manage to consider the proposal by the end of the electoral term (29 March 2023) and it was allowed to lapse. The next government will decide if the changes are proposed again. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The AMIF-funded TERTTU project came to an end, after developing a health examination protocol for assessing applicants' health, well-being and health care needs in the arrival stage. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The start and end point of an applicant’s right to work was clarified. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Free legal aid was made available to all applicants for international protection during an interview, not only to vulnerable groups. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The refugee quota was increased by about 500 refugees, with a total of 1,500 persons to be transferred in 2022, due to the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Finnish Immigration Service published a report on the duty of the authorities to clarify and gather information on immigration matters in general, including for asylum applications. The report forms part of the AMIF-funded MISEC project, which aims to strengthen cooperation between immigration and security authorities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A survey commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior in 2018 was finalised, examining the asylum procedure as a whole (including the practices of the administrative courts) and cooperation between the different authorities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
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 |