|
Portugal |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
Around 200 refugees, who were evacuated from Afghanistan, were received as the government pledged to receive Afghan nationals on humanitarian admission grounds. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The sponsor in Spain must now begin the family reunification procedure, not the family member in the country of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position from 2015 on the investigation and assessment of a future risk of persecution for applicants claiming asylum due to sexual orientation or gender identity. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, the Minister for Justice and the police signed a memorandum in Cyprus to strengthen cooperation for the referral and support to survivors of human trafficking. The national reception strategy also established assessments and referral mechanisms as core objectives. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
France |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A draft law on child protection was adopted by the National Assembly and by the Senate. The draft includes several provisions relevant to unaccompanied children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Latvia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Latvia ratified the readmission agreement with Armenia in October 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The length of the regular procedure was reduced to 6 days instead of 8 days, with the possibility to extend it by 3 days for complex cases. The possibilities to omit the rest and preparation period (RVT) were extended. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The new sanction system for breaching house rules of the reception facility started to be applied. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A parliamentary initiative was adopted on the obligation to cooperate in the asylum procedure, which includes the possibility of checking an applicant’s mobile phone. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The Netherlands and Belgium concluded an agreement to replace PCR tests by a quarantine before departure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The National Strategy on Migration was adopted for the period 2021-2025. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Denmark |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Refugee Board suspended appeals when the situation in Afghanistan was critical but continued to address other aspects, such as age assessments and Dublin transfers. The processing of cases was resumed in December 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
France |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The minister responsible for citizenship issued a circular to define priorities for the integration of newly-arrived migrants and beneficiaries of international protection for 2021. The circular confirmed that the focus remains on integration through employment. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry for Migration and Asylum established a National Mechanism for the Detection and Protection of Unaccompanied Children, in cooperation with the IOM, Aris, METAdrasi and the Network for Children’s Rights. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Ireland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The prioritisation procedure was updated, which re-confirmed that asylum interviews for unaccompanied minor applicants can be scheduled with priority. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Italy |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Department of Civil Liberties and Migration published an operational handbook on the identification and reception of unaccompanied children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Luxembourg |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
The budget was increased for the Directorate of Immigration for translation and interpretation by 2.8%, while in practice it spent 32% more for these purposes in 2021 compared to 2020. The costs allocated to the National Reception Office (ONA) for experts, studies and translations decreased by 38%. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Malta |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The employment policy was amended so applicants from a safe country of origin or in the Dublin procedure can access the labour market after 9 months from the lodging of their application for international protection, while other applicants are able to work legally as soon as their asylum application is confirmed. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
Country of origin reports were made publicly available. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Poland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A special centre for single women and single mothers, operated by a contractor, was closed. The authorities were planning to construct a new, state-owned centre for women with AMIF funding. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Following new instructions, only recognised beneficiaries of international protection can be referred to the second phase of the national reception system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
Sweden amended and issued legal positions on returns, addressing practical obstacles (RS/048/2021) and the immediate enforcement of a return to the home country including safe countries of origin (RS/071/2021). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The SEM underlined that addressing the issue of violence against women would remain a priority in 2021 and the authority planned to hold information and training sessions for asylum and reception staff to raise awareness of all forms of violence against women. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
New orders were issued by the Ministry of Labour, allowing applicants to start working before a formal decision is made on the work permit application. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A draft government proposal was sent out for comments to amend the Aliens Act provisions on the family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |