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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 Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2023 Institutional Access to procedure icon Access to procedure A new information system, IS AZYL III, was developed to manage the registration of applications for international protection and related information. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2023 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Cases lodged by specific nationalities were decided faster, for example for nationals of Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, with a first instance decision being delivered quickly. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Institutional Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Asylum Service planned to hire additional staff to address the backlog of applications, reduce processing times and speed up the examination procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups A bill proposal on guardianship and fostering children was approved by the Council of Ministers to enhance protection and support for children in the care of the Social Welfare Services. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The law was amended to state that asylum seekers who do not consent to the medical examination for an age assessment are presumed to be adults. However, they can submit additional information at any stage of the process to establish their minority and can request the medical examination at a later stage, which cannot be disregarded by the Asylum Service. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Ministry of the Interior published a draft bill proposing to establish a Deputy Ministry of Migration and Asylum. This would result in one institutions being responsible for creating and implementing an integrated strategy for migration and asylum. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The authorities launched an information campaign in Nigeria warning about the realities of the journey and arrival in Cyprus. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Institutional Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Asylum Service planned to hire additional staff handling subsequent applications to eliminate a backlog of approximately 1,000 cases. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information An information kiosk was set up in Pournara where applicants can seek information on the status of their file and ask questions about the asylum procedure in general. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The expansion of the capacity of the pre-departure detention centre in Limnes was planned as part of an overall plan to manage migration. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The expansion of the centre in Kofinou was planned. The Pournara First Reception Centre was upgraded to include new prefabricated housing units and equipment. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Amendments to the Law on International and Temporary Protection clarified that children in reception must be offered appropriate recreational activities, including outdoor activities. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Amendments to the Law on International and Temporary Protection specified that the guardian is obliged to start family tracing as soon as possible for an unaccompanied child. In addition, confidentiality must be respected when managing information on a child and the family in order not to jeopardise the child’s safety. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation The Law on International and Temporary Protection was amended to introduce two new obligations related to visits and communication of the detained asylum seekers with legal advisers, UNHCR, family members and the right to orally receive information on legal aid in a language the applicant can understand, when such information cannot be provided in writing. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Law on International and Temporary Protection was amended to introduce new grounds for applying restrictions on the movement of applicants, including multiple consecutive attempts to leave the country during an asylum procedure. The decision on the restriction is regularly reviewed by the administrative court if it lasts longer than 1 month and if there is a change in circumstances that may affect the legality of the decision. The court also reviews the decision upon request by the applicant. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Law on International and Temporary Protection was amended to extend applicants' access to medical care beyond emergency situations, upon a doctor's recommendation. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Law on International and Temporary Protection was amended to reduce the waiting period to access the labour market for applicants for international protection from 6 to 3 months. Applicants need to request a work permit, which is delivered within 1 month, and if they conclude a work contract, they must inform the reception facility within 15 days. Once the applicant status ceases, the work permit must be returned within 15 days. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Amendments to the Law on International and Temporary Protection clarified that a recognised beneficiary of international protection may stay in the reception centre for 60 days following a positive decision. Within 8 days, they may request accommodation from the competent regional office or they need to find suitable accommodation on the private market. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Ministry of Internal Affairs updated the project on the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights, which will continue to observe the actions of police officers of the ministry who work on border protection, illegal migration and international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2023 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The authorities started planning the opening of new reception centres in 2024, including one near the border and under the management of the border police. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The State Agency for Refugees presented a video of social services available to unaccompanied minors. The video was produced by UNHCR and is available in Arabic, Bulgarian, Dari, English and Pashto. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Legislative Interpretation services Interpretation services National legislation on asylum was amended to allow EUAA interpreters to support the registration and assessment of applications for international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Legislation is being amended to enable a negative decision on international protection and a return decision to be issued jointly. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The authorities adopted a circular for the implementation of the accelerated procedure, pending the amendment of the Law on Asylum and Refugees. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Authorities started preparations for the adoption of two lists with designated safe countries of origin and safe third countries. EUAA Asylum Report 2024