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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 Sort descending Thematic area Development Source
France Flag France 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Applicants residing in Brittany and New Aquitaine have access to all the documents OFPRA sends them since 15 July 2020. This pilot implements the legislative amendments from 2018 and is foreseen to be extended gradually to the whole territory. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Certain categories of applicants were prioritised, including those in the reception system or from countries with high recognition rates, where a decision could be taken based on evidence in the file. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Croatia Flag Croatia 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The government adopted a decision to develop the National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2022-2027. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
France Flag France 2022 Policy Information provision on the asylum procedure Information provision on the asylum procedure OFPRA launched a new website to improve access to information. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Iceland Flag Iceland 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The parliament adopted a resolution for the implementation of an action plan for immigration issues for 2022-2025. Based on the resolution, a steering group was established to formulate a comprehensive integration strategy, with a focus on labour market integration. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Association of Employment Agencies and four trade unions signed an agreement to facilitate the labour market integration of beneficiaries of international protection and of national forms of protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A portal was launched for asylum lawyers, allowing them to rapidly check the status of a case, easily upload documents and safely exchange data EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Norway Flag Norway 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The national budget was revised to employ more experts working with children in reception facilities, following the increasing number of arrivals from Ukraine. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
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
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency published a new legal position on the assessment of applications for international protection lodged by Syrian nationals. The SMA considered that Syrians summoned for military service or who deserted ran a general risk of persecution. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior continued to implement the AMIF-funded project Capacity Building in the Field of Asylum, which trains its staff members on reception of asylum seekers, including timely and thorough identification of vulnerable groups. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) started to assign some applicants for international protection to cantons at an earlier stage to alleviate overcrowding in federal reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
United Kingdom United Kingdom 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The guidance on age assessment was updated. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Austria Flag Austria 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Asyl-Train project implemented by IOM Austria continued in 2019 and provided training to relevant national authorities and service providers to help identify trafficked persons in the framework of the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A Quality Control Unit was established within the Asylum Service, with participation of experts from the Asylum Service, EASO and UNHCR. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups OFPRA published its new asylum guide for unaccompanied minors. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The Management Board of OFPRA decided to maintain the current list of safe countries of origin but the situation in Benin will be reviewed within six months. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The method of issuing or extending residence permits for beneficiaries of international protection were simplified. The documents are no longer re-issued and a new expiration date is noted directly on the existing permit. 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
Austria Flag Austria 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Austrian Federal Ministry of Justice established a Commission on the Best Interests of the Child in February 2021, tasked to review the legal framework and practices related to children in the asylum procedure. The Federal Ministry of the Interior conducted an internal review as well, concluding that many of the recommendations were already being applied or were on the way to implementation, and suggesting new measures. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2021 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services Remote interpretation was used during registration and eligibility interviews in reception centres located outside of the capital, where interpreters are harder to find and employ. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Third-country nationals, including beneficiaries of international protection who would like to obtain a long-term permanent residence after 5 years of continuous residence in Czechia, must take a Czech language exam at A2 level instead of A1. Persons issued a long-term residence permit must complete within a year a 4-hour integration course on their rights and obligations, fundamental values, everyday life, culture and traditions. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
France Flag France 2021 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services The OFII medical service launched a 6-month pilot project in three major cities, and medical screening is done in the presence of an interpreter for all new asylum applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency published a legal position regarding certain Yemeni passports. EASO Asylum Report 2021
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