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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 descending Development Source
Ireland Flag Ireland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Specific policies were introduced for the vaccination of asylum applicants, specifying that vaccines are free of charge, on a voluntary basis and by registration to receive an appointment EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Ireland Flag Ireland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published a white paper on ending "Direct Provision", and replacing it with a new system, called International Protection Support Service, planned to enter into force in December 2024. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of the Interior signed a memorandum of understanding with civil society organisations (Rete per la Parità, Le Contemporanee, the National Council of Italian Women and the Italian division of Soroptimist International) to support the reception and integration of Afghan evacuees. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of the Interior issued a decree modifying previous tender specifications by increasing the per capita amount awarded to managing organisations of reception facilities in order to cover psychological support, social and local guidance, and language courses. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Latvia Flag Latvia 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection To increase reception capacity, a second temporary reception facility was opened with a capacity of 400 persons and two AMIF-funded projects were ongoing to temporarily increase reception places. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Latvia Flag Latvia 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of Education and Science prepared a report on applicant children’s education, informing the Cabinet of Ministers of the challenges and potential solutions in light of the increased number of applicant children in the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection After the declaration of the state of emergency all centres were transformed to provide accommodation for applicants under the accelerated procedure, with strict limitations on freedom of movement. Filming, photographing and sound recordings were prohibited in accommodation centres, access to the facilities was restricted, and gatherings in centres were limited. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The new first-reception centre started its operations at the beginning 2021, and staff optimised processes and information flows. Particular focus was given to promote voluntary returns for applicants with little chances of being recognised to avoid forced returns. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Reception structures by type of procedure were established in the initial reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A complete IT overhaul was implemented in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Malta Flag Malta 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The authorities focused on enforcing contracts signed with applicants for their accommodation to ensure that reception spaces are swiftly available. When appointments are not respected or when there are clear indications that the applicant abandoned the asylum procedure, the International Protection Agency considers the application implicitly withdrawn and informs AWAS, which terminates the reception contract. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Malta Flag Malta 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection 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 Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The COA significantly increased the number of reception places. It expressed several times the urgent need for more places. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The coalition agreement foresees changes in the financing of the reception system, to make it more efficient. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Specific projects continued to address and manage more effectively disruptive behaviour in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An AMIF-funded project aimed to develop and implement a methodology allowing for applicants' active participation in civic and social life within and outside of reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An AMIF-funded project promoted sports, exercise and healthy lifestyle among residents. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Hotel and Accommodation Regulation (HAR) was adopted to support beneficiaries of international protection moving out of reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Norway Flag Norway 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The UDI announced a tender for a new supplier to train reception staff who lead dialogue groups on violence in reception centres. The dialogue groups are offered for men and boys over the age of 15, and the UDI was considering developing a similar scheme for women. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Poland Flag Poland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Two centres from the Office for Foreigners were lent to the Border Guard due to the need for more capacity in detention. Thus, the capacity in reception facilities temporarily decreased. One of these centres was returned to the Office for Foreigners in mid-June 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Portugal Flag Portugal 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Initiatives to increase reception capacity and open new centres continued. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Portugal Flag Portugal 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The High Commission for Migration and the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation signed a cooperation protocol to provide adequate access to housing to migrant populations, including to beneficiaries of international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Romania Flag Romania 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Romania introduced specific policies for the vaccination of asylum applicants, specifying that vaccines are free of charge, on a voluntary basis and by registration to receive an appointment. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection 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
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An increase in the national budget was announced to upgrade the reception system, in line with the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. EUAA Asylum Report 2022