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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 Sort ascending Development Source
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2021 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The law on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was amended, formalising the practice that the Ombudsperson can visit freely, unhindered and unannounced any detention facility. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2021 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens prolong detention for an additional 6 months (up to 1 year in total) and limits the freedom of movement to specific geographical areas. An asylum seeker may be detained or movement restricted to the place of accommodation if entering the territory illegally in the event of a war, an emergency or an emergency due to a mass influx of foreigners. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Belgium Flag Belgium 2021 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Immigration Office set up a new department for alternatives to detention. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2021 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) were established at the borders with special detention facilities. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Poland Flag Poland 2021 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The training centre of the Ministry of National Defence in Wędrzyn was lent to the Border Guard for purpose of detention, and two Border Guard stations in proximity of the Belarusian border (Dubicze Cerkiewne and Połowce) became centres for the registration of foreigners in which the foreigners were held after being issued a decision on detention, before being transported to a detention centre. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Poland Flag Poland 2021 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure To accommodate a larger number of detainees, as an emergency solution, the minimum space per person was reduced from 4 sqm to 2 sqm on the basis of the Ordinance of the Minister of the Interior and Administration. All detention centre for families and single women returned to 4 sqm on 25 April 2022, and the centre in Wedrzyn returned to 4 sqm on 6 June 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2021 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency adopted legal positions on several issues providing guidance on the calculation of detention times, the validity period of a detention decision and which authority is competent to address detention if there is an enforceable expulsion or expulsion decision and the detainee applies for protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act (OLPEA) came into force, providing for the possibility for the PBGB or the Estonian Internal Security Service to detain third-country nationals for up to 48 hours, without the permission of an administrative court, to carry out identification procedures and to determine whether they are subjected to an obligation to leave the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Greece Flag Greece 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Presidential Decree No 77/17.11.2022 established Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) on Samos, Kos, Leros, Lesvos and Chios as regional services of the Reception and Identification Service. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The new regulation for pre-removal detention centres (CPR) was published, followed by a circular from the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration on its implementation. The circular regulates access to the centres, the services provided, communication, visits as well as monitoring and controls. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The use of quarantine vessels was extended until the end of May 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Latvia Flag Latvia 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Internal Regulation No 23.1-8.2/12 of the State Border Guard entered into force, defining the actions to take if minor children arrive with a detained adult asylum seeker. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners came into effect, noting additional grounds for the detention of asylum applicants during a state of emergency or an extreme situation due to a mass influx. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A bill was introduced to the parliament proposing to extend the possibility of administrative detention to any illegally-staying foreigner who needs to be forcibly removed, including EU citizens and their family members who were issued a removal order. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A bill proposed the introduction of non-negligible risk of absconding as a reason for detention, specifying in what cases this risk is presumed. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Legislation was amended to allow for detention at the border for up to 3 days without a judicial review and without a written order. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Federal Council announced that it will not create a legal basis in the Law for Foreigners and Integration for the introduction of electronic bracelets as an alternative to administrative detention. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Ireland Flag Ireland 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Immigration detention facilities became operational at Dublin airport. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Aliens Circular was amended to specify that a foreigner can be detained for a short period to investigate the person’s identity and their lawful status in the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A special strategy was developed to provide additional places in detention centres in an emergency situation. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Detention 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 Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency published a legal comment on detainees who are or will be subject to another form of deprivation of liberty (RK/001/2022). EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Country of origin information Country of origin information The IND published new work instructions on the use of sources and country of origin information in the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Belgium Flag Belgium 2020 Policy Country of origin information Country of origin information CEDOCA developed a new training programme on COI through an online tutorial. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Policy Country of origin information Country of origin information A three-year project to update the information portal of the Asylum Division of the Migration Department was completed. EASO Asylum Report 2020