|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Information related to the lodging and examination of an application for asylum may be classified in accordance with the procedure established by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on State Secrets and Official Secrets. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
For the purposes of family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection, it is clearly stated now that family ties must precede the foreigner's entry into the country. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A subsequent application no longer prevents the enforcement of a removal decision if the subsequent application is deemed to be inadmissible and was submitted only for the purpose of delaying or impeding a removal. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Instruction was provided to accelerate the re-housing of beneficiaries of international protection. |
FR LEG 15 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
A newly-built dormitory opened for a maximum of 15 vulnerable persons at the Foreigners’ Registration Centre of the State Border Guard Service. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Sweden |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
In preparation for the entry into force of the UN CRC Act (2018:1197) on 1 January 2020, the Swedish Migration Agency developed guidelines on assessing the best interests of the child in accordance with Article 3 of the UN CRC, trained around 500 case officers and 40 head of units in children's rights, and developed a technical tool supporting the determination of the best interests of the child. It also developed new guidelines on the placement of unaccompanied minor applicants assigned to a municipality. Information on the asylum procedure was developed specially for children aged 7 to 12 years, available through a mobile application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Netherlands |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Municipalities in the Netherlands received an additional EUR 40 million for 2019 and 2020 to become more involved in the counselling of beneficiaries of international protection in their civic integration and language learning. The additional resources also aim to help municipalities orient themselves towards their directing role in the new civic integration system in order to promote a smooth transition to the new system. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The staff of two Fedasil reception centres underwent intensive training on restorative practices, developed by the Oranjehuis NGO, to prevent conflicts between unaccompanied minors and staff, provide sustainable measures for minors and reduce the need for disciplinary transfers. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF-funded asylum procedure information provision, ONE project, was concluded, which facilitated access to legal aid from reception centres and to information throughout the whole asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
BAMF amended its quality assurance system so that some quality assurance employees rotate among the different branch offices to bring more homogeneity in decisions. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The CGRS developed and implemented a system to prioritise specific cases or profiles. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
France |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The government presented a comprehensive action plan on migration, including measures to reduce the processing time of asylum applications to an average of six months. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Malta |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
AWAS amended its policies and provided allowances to applicants who hold an asylum certificate and are registered with the Refugee Commissioner. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Netherlands |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Major changes were implemented for applicants in the Dublin procedure who claimed to be victims of human trafficking. This group of applicants will now only receive the special temporary residence permit for victims of human trafficking if their presence is considered to be essential for the investigation and prosecution of the case, and the Netherlands as a consequence only takes responsibility for their application if that is the case. |
NL LEG 05 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A separate Social Adaptation Department was established in the Registration and Reception Centre in Harmanli. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Sweden |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
Country of origin information |
The COI Unit became part of the newly-established Section for Information Analysis of the Swedish Migration Agency. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Adult applicants without children are required to live in an initial reception centre for a maximum period of 18 months (federal states may decide to extend this period to 24 months). The previous law defined a 6-month maximum period. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Greece |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Joint Decision on the implementation of exceptional border procedures. |
EL LEG 03 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Migration Department may take joint decisions on asylum applicants of the same family (previously they were always taken jointly), provided that a joint decision does not disclose personal circumstances of an applicant which could pose a threat to best interests. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Belgium |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
An amendment to the Immigration Act further clarified decision-making competences in issuing an order to leave the territory. |
BE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Estonia |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A proposition was presented to amend the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens by updating the national list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. The duty to notify the European Commission lies with the Ministry of the Interior. |
EE LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An order defined the operating rules for emergency reception centres. |
FR LEG 12 2019 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Slovakia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior prepared an internal methodology for social workers (“Social Workers’ Competences to Avoid and Solve Critical Situations”) identifying the most frequent types of extraordinary and critical situations that social workers may encounter in asylum facilities, their possible causes and solutions to avoid or manage such situations. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
United Kingdom |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
New guidance provided instructions to caseworkers when an asylum seeker reports an incident of domestic abuse while the application is being assessed. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |