|
Austria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The scope of the term family was widened. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Law on Asylum and Refugees was amended to address shortcomings in the identification, legal representation and age assessment procedure for unaccompanied children. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens allows the PBGB to request assistance from EASO and to be involved in the processing of an asylum application in the territory of another state, based on an international agreement or an EU act. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
An amendment to the Aliens Circular (Vc) established a new procedure regarding lodging and assessing subsequent asylum applications. |
NL LEG 03 2019 |
|
Switzerland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The provisions concerning the new accelerated asylum procedures entered into force on 1 March 2019, following the adoption of the new Asylum Law in September 2015, the national referendum in June 2016 and the pilot projects carried out in Zurich, Boudry and Giffers. |
CH LEG 01 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Authorities will no longer announce the planned date for forced removal following the expiry of the date for voluntary return. Information about the circumstances of a particular removal is now considered to be secret and sharing such information or instigating or abetting the sharing of such information is punishable under criminal law. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The act introduced the tolerated status related to employment (Beschäftigungsduldung) for persons who can cover their own living costs and are well integrated. The criteria include: at least of 12 months of tolerated status (Vorduldung), clear identity, in employment for at least 18 months working at least 35 hours a week, stable livelihood and sufficient language knowledge. |
DE LEG 06 2019 |
|
Italy |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
New Inter-ministerial Decree defined a list of safe countries of origin. |
IT LEG 03 2019 |
|
Austria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Country of origin information |
Sri Lanka was removed from the list of countries considered to be safe countries of origin due to the reintroduction of capital punishment. |
AT LEG 06 2019 |
|
Czech Republic |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
A new alternative to detention was approved, involving stays at a designated residence with regular checks. |
CZ LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An order provided specifications for collective reception centres. |
FR LEG 09 2019 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Belgian CALL announced that from March 2022 procedural documents can be submitted online. Documents can be sent electronically via J-box, an alternative to traditional registered mail, and for an appeal in a special procedure, this option replaced the traditional submission by fax. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Denmark |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Amendments to the Aliens Act and the Return Act foresee the possibility to transfer suddenly-arrived asylum seekers to a partner country outside of the EU to process their asylum applications and subsequently provide protection to those in need. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Turkey was designated a safe third country for applicants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens changed second instance procedures for decisions pronounced in an accelerated procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Norway |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A new Integration Act entered into force in January 2021, putting more emphasis on training participants in the introduction programme (mostly refugees) on the skills required by Norwegian employers or needed to qualify for further education. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA) ensured that unaccompanied children have continued legal representation even after a decision is given on their asylum application. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A number of legislative changes were adopted in the area of asylum and return, including compulsory COVID-19 tests for a person subject to a return, expulsion measure or a Dublin transfer, even against their will. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Czech Republic |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The reasons for excluding from or ending international protection were expanded following a legislative amendment. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Further guidance was added on how to interpret the element political conviction: it is clarified that the applicant cannot be expected to exercise restraint on his/her fundamental political views, which may be actions or expressions that are particularly important for the person's identity or moral integrity. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
France |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A new law was adopted on child protection, including the requirement for child welfare services to inform unaccompanied minors about the possibility to apply for international protection and the support which is available for them. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Poland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Humanitarian visa holders are permitted to work without a work permit since 1 December 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to Ordinance 2 on asylum settled the funding of security costs of federal reception centres when they are temporarily closed. The confederation pays a lump sum for a year, even when the centre is closed. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners came into effect, noting that during a state of emergency or an extreme situation due to a mass influx, foreigners may lodge an application for international protection from abroad within consular posts designated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Additional amendments were passed when an application is considered to be lodged under this procedure, when the Border Guard should still accept applications for international protection from persons who have crossed the border in an irregular manner, and circumstances when the application is not accepted. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |