|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Ministry of Home Affair’s Sub-Secretariat instructed the Asylum and Refugee Office to prioritise applications submitted in Ceuta and Melilla due to a high influx of arrivals, as well as the applications for Afghan nationals who were evacuated. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Swedish Migration Agency updated the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for reintegration assistance in cash when returning to these countries from Sweden. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
Resettled refugees were temporarily hosted in cantonal reception facilities due to a lack of accommodation in Swiss federal reception centres. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments entered into force allowing the Head of the Asylum Office to issue a deportation or removal order jointly with a negative decision when deciding on an application for international protection. Both decisions, which are no longer separate administrative acts, can be challenged before the International Protection Administrative Court and the suspensive effect may be automatic. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
France |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Penal sanctions apply to people who refuse to comply with health requirements which are required for an automatic enforcement of an expulsion measure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Latvia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Asylum Law and several corresponding laws were amended related to documents certifying an applicant’s status. These modifications aim to facilitate an applicant’s access to health care, education and employment. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The initial interview was dropped (combined with the application interview). During the application interview, applicants are for a brief statement on the reasons for seeking asylum. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Following amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA), two new decrees were adopted on an applicant’s reception rights and accommodations for unaccompanied children, as well as a decree on house rules of the asylum centre. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A number of amendments to the regulatory framework concerning resettlement were adopted to enable greater flexibility in acute situations, such as the Afghanistan situation. According to a government decision, the requirement that a person must be in a third country to be eligible for resettlement was temporarily removed. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Austria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 Republic |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCACs) were established at the borders with special detention facilities. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Ireland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) piloted a vulnerability assessment process throughout 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Italy |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry of the Interior signed agreements with UNICEF to monitor reception conditions for unaccompanied children, with Terre des Hommes for psychological and psychosocial assistance from disembarkation to first reception, and with Save the Children for the provision of targeted support to unaccompanied children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Luxembourg |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A complete IT overhaul was implemented in the reception system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Malta |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Poland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Slovakia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A resolution was adopted to outline the national action plans for combating trafficking in human beings, according to the 2020 recommendations from GRETA. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The Swedish Migration Agency adopted legal positions on several issues providing guidance on the calculation of detention times, the validity period of a detention decision and which authority is competent to address detention if there is an enforceable expulsion or expulsion decision and the detainee applies for protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Switzerland launched a pilot programme for the employment integration of refugees and persons with temporary admission and concluded subsidy contracts with 14 cantons. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Administrative Court was amended introducing an automatic suspensive effect for an appeal against a return decision, deportation order and removal order. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Finland opened consultations on proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act (359/2003) and the Government Decree on Citizenship (293/2013). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |