|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Federal Council adopted its opinion on a report by the Political Institutions Committee of the Council of States concerning a parliamentary initiative on granting the same family reunification regimes to beneficiaries of international protection and persons with temporary admission. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Romania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The new National Strategy on Immigration 2021-2024 was approved, together with the Action Plan to implement the national strategy, with objectives related to making the national asylum system more efficient. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF-funded project, Free legal assistance in the process of granting international protection was approved in July 2020 to provide asylum seekers without sufficient funds with access to legal assistance, which consists of: assistance in drawing up a claim, representation in first instance administrative disputes and an exemption from payment of the costs of first instance administrative disputes. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The National Resettlement Programme was approved foreseeing the resettlement of 1,200 refugees in 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Denmark |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Minister for Immigration and Integration decided that the processing of cases for persons with temporary residence permits which were granted on the grounds of the general circumstances in the Damascus area should be accelerated. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Swedish Migration Agency issued a new legal position to clarify that municipalities and regions are entitled to be reimbursed for the care of unaccompanied children from the moment they express their wish to apply for asylum. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
During the months when personal interviews were halted the focus was on case loads for which an interview had already taken place. Furthermore, the focus during this period was also on cases where it was clear, based on written documents, that the applicant was in need of international protection (mostly Syrians or where a family member had already obtained international protection). Likewise, subsequent applications without any new elements received a decision without an interview. When interviews resumed, priority was given to applicants who were within the reception system of the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil) and already had a status in another EU+ Member State and Brazilian applicants who were already in the country before applying for asylum. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Germany |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Following the amendments from 2019, which require adult applicants to live in an initial reception centre for a maximum of 18 months (extendable to 24 months) instead of the previously-applicable maximum of 6 months, German reception centres started to adapt their reception infrastructure and staff numbers. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
4,000 places were created in the reception system throughout 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The rules of procedures of the Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) were amended making the applicant's presence before the court mandatory, whether in person or represented by a lawyer, without which the appeal could be rejected, except in situations of force majeure. Applicants or their lawyer now have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their supporting arguments, unless extended by the court when deemed necessary. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
France |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry of the Interior published an instruction in April 2022 requesting the prefects to harmonise practices related to victims who were trafficked for sexual exploitation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Ireland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The International Protection Office implemented a revised asylum application procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Department introduced measures to address the high-level of staff turnover. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Managing applicants with disruptive behaviour remained a priority, and a National Coordinator for Managing Disruption was established to coordinate among different stakeholders and ensure consistency across various measures. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Poland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Integration centres for foreigners were opened in two provinces in March 2022 as a part of the project “Building structures for the integration of foreigners in Poland - Stage II – piloting Foreigners Integration Centres”. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The booklet A Guide for Asylum Seekers in Latvia was translated into two additional languages, Azerbaijani and Georgian. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Sweden |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
As part of the Swedish Migration Agency policy to increase detention capacity, a new detention centre with 114 places was opened in Mölndal. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Sweden |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The Swedish Migration Agency published a new handbook on human trafficking, with a part focusing on improving the identification of victims and perpetrators within the asylum procedure. The template for interviewing unaccompanied minors was updated to better detect signs of human trafficking. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Switzerland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) decided that the granting of free legal advice should also apply to persons who file an asylum application from detention. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
United Kingdom |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Guidance was updated on assessing applicants who are destitute and eligible for support. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The CGRS implemented a quality control process for gender-related cases, starting with cases which invoked sexual orientation as a ground to monitor the application of its Sexual Orientation Guideline. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
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 |
|
France |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The number of places was substantially increased in France, including the creation of a new type of reception facility in Île-de-France (CAIR). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The Immigration Office increased its staff working on Dublin cases. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The implementation of the new payment card system continued. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |