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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
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Training on working with unaccompanied minors was offered to reception centre staff. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Migration Department took over some tasks from the police and, for example, applicants can now lodge an application directly with the institution rather than the police. The initial interview with the applicant is obligatorily recorded (video or audio) and attached to the personal file. The department can now also issue a Certificate of Acceptance of an Application for Asylum, confirming an applicant’s status and serving as a Foreigners’ Registration Certificate, pending the issuance of the latter. LT LEG 01 2019
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The “Description of the Procedure for Accommodation of Asylum Applicants” clarified that costs exceeding the rates defined in the document might be covered by funds from international organisations, the European Union, non-governmental organisations or private entities. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Institutional Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Migration Department became the main institution for migration-related activities. The functions related to asylum procedures, previously performed by police units, were transferred to the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service (SBGS). EASO Asylum Report 2020
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection 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
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Legislative Statelessness in the context of asylum Statelessness in the context of asylum New legislation provides citizenship automatically to children born to non-citizens in the country, unless the parents have agreed to grant to the child citizenship of another country. LV LEG 01 2019
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Culture in Latvia launched language clubs, co-funded by AMIF, in five cities. The Latvian Language Agency developed new e?learning material (e-Laipa) for A1 and A2 levels. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups 80 State Border Guard officers participated in training on unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable persons applying or not applying for asylum (upgraded training programme), “Profiling, interviewing and identification”. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Two video tutorials were developed with information for applicants on everyday issues at the Asylum Accommodation Centre. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The decree identified border or transit zones in several provinces and established two additional sections of the Territorial Commissions in Apulia and Sicily. IT LEG 02 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications New Inter-ministerial Decree defined a list of safe countries of origin. IT LEG 03 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Within the Protection System for Beneficiaries of International Protection and Unaccompanied Foreign Minors (SIPROIMI), the Ministry of the Interior in Italy allocated funds to finance projects, organised by local authorities, related to unaccompanied minors. IT LEG 04 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies launched a project, Protezione Unita a Obiettivo Integrazione, which provided effective pathways to the labour market for beneficiaries of international protection, persons with humanitarian status or persons who entered the country as unaccompanied minors. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure A new security decree adopted by the Council of Ministers stated that boats suspected of facilitating irregular migration may be refused entry into Italian ports and boats violating the ban could face substantial fines and be seized by the authorities. IT LEG 01 2019
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Executive Officers in the International Protection Office (IPO) were granted the authority for single sign-off on certain cases. Some panel members and case workers are assigned to handle caseloads from specific countries to improve their knowledge for swift decision-making. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The government published the mid-term review of the Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The Department of Justice and Equality launched a community sponsorship programme. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The tasks for reception and accommodation were divided into two new sections within the Immigration Service Delivery Function: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) and International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS). EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions A new phase of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was announced by the Department of Justice and Equality. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Section 3(1) of the Immigration Act 1999 was amended to confirm that the Minister’s power to make a deportation order is subject to the prohibition of refoulement set out in the Immigration Act 1999, Section 3A. The Minister for Justice and Equality clarified that this legal amendment corrected a gap in the law. IE LEG 01 2019
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Regular interviews now take place through teleconference or videoconference in Cork and from video suites in courthouses. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The “National Standards for Accommodation Offered to People in the Protection Process” and a report on direct provision from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality were published. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Hungary Flag Hungary 2019 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Reception Facilities Supervisory Unit became responsible for operating and managing reception facilities. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Hungary Flag Hungary 2019 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Hungarian Government extended the time limit of Government Decree 41/2016 (III. 9.) stating that there was a continued state of crisis caused by mass migration. HU LEG 02 2019
Hungary Flag Hungary 2019 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure An amendment entered into force which added new criteria for compulsory confinement of third country nationals under the Aliens Policing Procedure. HU LEG 03 2019