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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
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration signed a memorandum with the Spanish Olympic Committee to promote sports in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Switzerland 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
Austria Flag Austria 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Financing for people in reception was increased, after the Austrian Federal Parliament approved an amendment to the agreement between the federal state and the provinces. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The concept for a new reception and accommodation model (the idea of creating a new model) was approved in Lithuania, and the Ministry of the Interior started the preparations for the necessary legislation. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Norway Flag Norway 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection New regulations entered into force on determining the benefits for residents in asylum reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Asylum seekers living outside of reception centres may be granted a financial allowance without prior registration in one of the first reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The special rules on the duration of material reception conditions connected with the COVID-19 pandemic were repealed. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Portugal Flag Portugal 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Asylum Act was amended to allow applicants for international protection to work from the day they submit their application and receive related support. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Romania Flag Romania 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A government decision established the legal basis for paying benefits by card to asylum applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Asylum Act was amended and codified the practice that applicants can stay outside of the reception facility for 3 months, with the possibility of extending this period without losing the right to material reception conditions. The act also regulates the initial integration of beneficiaries of international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The waiting period for applicants to access the labour market was shortened from 9 to 6 months. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Legal provisions on the entitlement to material reception conditions were amended, and the situation of applicants going through a Dublin procedure was clarified. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Spain Flag Spain 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Royal Decree 220/2022 of 29 March 2022 was adopted, approving the regulation governing the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Federal Council submitted a proposal for amendments on the operation of reception centres to ensure the safety and security of asylum applicants and reception staff. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Fedasil issued a new instruction on the forced and voluntary withdrawal of reception conditions for working applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection 4,000 places were created in the reception system throughout 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The winter plan was signed, for example reserving a certain number of places in the accommodation structure for the homeless, in particular for applicants for international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Fedasil presented its new management plan for the period 2021-2026. It defines the organisation’s strategic and operational objectives. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Fedasil concluded a cooperation agreement with the construction sector to orient asylum applicants towards employment in construction. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
France Flag France 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Inter-Ministerial Information Note of 18 November 2022 includes good practices on the first assessment of health needs of people claiming to be minors during the temporary emergency reception period. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Greece Flag Greece 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Reception capacity decreased and the ESTIA programme was completed and discontinued. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Iceland Flag Iceland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new arrival centre was opened in Reykjavík, offering all services from registration by the police to reception interviews, first health inspection and a needs assessment for permanent housing. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Luxembourg increased its reception capacity to 5,126 beds at the end of 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) updated its Multiannual Strategy 2020-2025, extending it with an additional year and re-prioritising the goals. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Security regions stepped in to open and manage crisis reception facilities. EUAA Asylum Report 2023