|
Croatia |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A new decision was issued on the resettlement of third country nationals and stateless persons. |
HR LEG 02 2019 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Based on CJEU Case C-550/16, the Aliens Act was amended and applicants reaching the age of 18 during the asylum procedure are considered to be minors for the purposes of family reunification. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The local Youth Welfare Office in charge of the initial screening of an unaccompanied minor is now obliged to ensure that the minor is identified and the data are transmitted to the Central Register of Foreigners, (AZR, Ausländerzentralregister). |
DE LEG 01 2019 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was updated, adding Armenia, Benin, Kenya, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia and Togo. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
People with a legal training but who are not qualified as public legal counsellors can no longer be assigned as legal assistants to third-country nationals in international protection procedures. Pay differences for legal assistants working on international protection cases were eliminated. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Ireland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Minister for Transport intended to introduce an amendment to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill to put the government’s policy on a statutory basis and allow asylum applicants to apply for a driving license. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Luxembourg |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments were introduced to the amended Immigration Law of 2008 to ensure a more effective management of the removal of third-country nationals who are illegally residing in Luxembourg. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The time limit to lodge an appeal before the Administrative Court against a decision issued in the accelerated procedure was reduced from 8 days to 3 days. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Swedish government established an inquiry on an orderly initial reception of asylum seekers. The inquiry is tasked to propose measures to ensure that asylum seekers choose to live in the Swedish Migration Agency's accommodation throughout the asylum period, propose how a statutory obligation to participate in social introduction can be formulated, consider the scope of persons covered under the Law on Reception of Asylum Seekers and Others, and review the scope of benefits covered by this act. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The government pledged to introduce a new legal status for stateless persons which would give them the right to legally reside in Belgium if they cannot return to their country of habitual residence. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Border Guard Act was amended to allow the authorities to centralise the reception of applicants at the border during an exceptionally high number of arrivals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The time limit for announcing the exact date of the forced removal is shortened from 48 hours to 36 hours (Article A3/6). The announcement can be omitted if there is a risk that the prior announcement would endanger the safety or health of the person or the family members. If the departure cannot take place, a new option is sought, and if the removal can take place within 2 days from the original date, a new prior notice is not necessary. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
A new registration procedure was introduced for first-time applicants through Circular 5049/2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The Swedish Migration Agency proposed 8 countries to be considered safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Kosovo, Mongolia, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and USA. The new list is foreseen to enter into force on 1 May 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Italy revised its list of safe countries of origin, de facto suspending Ukraine. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Malta |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The International Protection Act was amended to clarify the criteria for exclusion from subsidiary protection, the criteria for considering an application manifestly unfounded, the subsequent application procedure, the application procedure for children in need of care and the procedure for temporary humanitarian protection (a national form of protection). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The grounds for detention were extended: i) when there is a condition for which the rejection of refugee status (for reasons of national security or public order) and exclusion from subsidiary protection status is foreseen and ii) when a subsequent application is issued during the execution of a removal order. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Portugal |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The revised Nationality Regulation entered into force, which facilitates acquiring citizenship for children born in Portugal to applicants or beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The decision on which procedure the applicant follows must be made within 2 working days and no sperate decision is issued on this, but the case officer communicates this during the interview. The decision on admissibility is issued within 3 working days from the registration of the application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Spain |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Spanish Ministry of Justice approved a preliminary draft of a new law on age assessments. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Malta |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Bangladesh and Pakistan were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
A Ministerial Decision specified that interpretation services must be provided free of charge by the Asylum Services during meetings between an applicant and a lawyer, and these meetings should not exceed 2 hours in total. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Hungary |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Asylum Law, Article 31/A(1a) was amended: It was added that there needs to be a risk of absconding, in order to take a foreigner into detention, when he/she did not apply for asylum and the Dublin III Regulation might apply. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Flemish government adopted a new integration path for newcomers which includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and sponsorship by a Flemish 'buddy') and will conclude with an exam. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |