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National Asylum Developments Database

 

The National Asylum Developments Database presents legislative, institutional and policy developments related to asylum since 2018.

Searches can be narrowed down by:

  • Country
  • Year
  • Type of development: legislative, institutional or policy 
  • Thematic area: access to procedure, access to information, legal assistance and representation, interpretation services, special procedures, procedures at first instance, reception of applicants for international protection, detention, procedures at second instance, country of origin information, statelessness in the asylum context, content of protection, return of former applicants, resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes.

Details on each development and further analysis can be consulted in the Asylum Report series.
 

Types of policies and practices reported in the National Asylum Developments Database

The National Asylum Developments Database can be searched by institutional, legislative and policy changes. There are three types of policy developments:

Policies and practices related to the integrity of national asylum systems aim to swiftly identify unfounded asylum applications and ensure that financial, human and administrative resources are not dissipated on such claims. These measures involve efforts to rapidly establish an applicant’s identity, including age, country of origin, travel route and security concerns if any. These facts help to better assess the credibility of the applicant’s statements and determine whether beneficiaries of international protection are still in need of protection. The prevention of unintentional misuse of the asylum procedure and its integrity are also supported by the provision of information to asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection on their respective rights and obligations and related procedural arrangements.

Policies and practices that improve the efficiency of national asylum systems include digitalisation and the use of new technologies in the framework of asylum, prioritising or fast-tracking applications, the re-organisation of the procedure itself or implementing changes in the number of staff employed.

Policy and practice aiming to enhance the quality of national asylum systems contribute to increasing fairness, integrity and efficiency. Quality assurance systems, guidance materials and capacity-building measures typically pay off on the initial investment and efforts. The initiatives include staff training, revising existing guidance materials and monitoring the quality of the decisions delivered.

The database presents validated factual information and does not imply any endorsement from the European Commission or EUAA.

Flag Country Year Sort descending Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants An amendment to the Immigration Act further clarified decision-making competences in issuing an order to leave the territory. BE LEG 03 2019
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2019 Legislative Statelessness in the context of asylum 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
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2019 Legislative Access to information Access to information An amendment to the Law on Asylum and Refugees clarified the role of organisations which provide legal and social assistance. BG LEG 01 2019
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection For the purposes of family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection, it is clearly stated now that family ties must precede the foreigner's entry into the country. BG LEG 01 2019
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The new Foster Care Act entered into force, whereby unaccompanied minors can stay with a foster family. HR LEG 01 2019
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Legislative Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions A new decision was issued on the resettlement of third country nationals and stateless persons. HR LEG 02 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups A new database (AEM, Appui à l’évaluation de minorité) was created, providing support from central state authorities to the départements in carrying out age assessments. FR LEG 04 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The financial allowance rates were adjusted. Single applicants receive EUR 354 (from EUR 344 previously). A couple in the same accommodation receives EUR 310 (from EUR 318 previously). An applicant accommodated in a reception centre receives EUR 310 and Young people between 14 and 17 years and adults under 25 years living with their parents are entitled to EUR 275. DE LEG 02 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new type of beneficiary group was established, referring to applicants in reception centres who are presumed to form a community with synergies in benefits, hence these applicants are now entitled to a lower level of benefits. DE LEG 02 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The level of benefits for applicants is more aligned with the general level of social security, for example with the level of basic support for job seekers. Electricity and maintenance are now provided as in-kind benefits and therefore their costs are deducted from cash benefits. DE LEG 02 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Further improvement to the AZR is foreseen to better monitor voluntary departure. DE LEG 01 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups 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
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure Fingerprinting became obligatory for all applicants aged 6 years and older. The age range for fingerprints was 14 years and older. DE LEG 01 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Instruction was provided to accelerate the re-housing of beneficiaries of international protection. FR LEG 15 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Statelessness in the context of asylum Statelessness in the context of asylum A provision for a multi-year residence permit stating “beneficiary of stateless person status” or “family member of a beneficiary of stateless person status” was established and the rules were clarified for processing applications for this type of permit. FR LEG 14 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance 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
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An order defined the operating rules for emergency reception centres. FR LEG 12 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An order defined the operating rules for collective reception centres. FR LEG 11 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An order provided specifications for emergency reception centres. FR LEG 10 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An order provided specifications for collective reception centres. FR LEG 09 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure An Inter-Ministerial Instruction established a new protocol model to manage applications lodged from detention. FR LEG 08 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The decree specifying the conditions to orient applicants to the appropriate authority to lodge an application came into force, which allows as an exception for phone communication with the protection officer for the interview, if neither an in-person nor a video-conference interview is possible with the applicant. FR LEG 07 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Several provisions of the Law of 10 September 2018 entered into force in 2019 on managed immigration, an effective right of asylum and successful integration. FR LEG 06 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The order defined the state’s financial contribution to the départements for accommodating and assessing the health of applicants claiming to be unaccompanied minors. FR LEG 05 2019
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A new alternative to detention was approved, involving stays at a designated residence with regular checks. CZ LEG 01 2019