|
Croatia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Croatia 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 |
|
Croatia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
AMIF funds have been allocated for the implementation of the project "Informatisation of work and work processes in the Detention Centre for Foreigners", which aims to establish an electronic database of accommodated foreigners and enable video calls and conversations to take place between foreigners and their diplomatic and consular missions in and outside of Croatia. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Croatia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry of the Interior developed standard operating procedures to prevent and address sexual- and gender-based violence in reception centres, in cooperation with UNHCR, Médecins du Monde, the Red Cross and the Croatian Law Centre. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
In continuation of a previous monitoring mechanism, a new agreement was signed to develop an independent framework to monitor the conduct of police personnel in the Ministry of the Interior who work in the area of irregular migration and international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The Ministry of the Interior signed a contract with the Croatian Law Centre to carry out an AMIF-funded project, entitled ""Legal guidance in the process of awarding international protection"". |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The government adopted a decision to develop the National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2022-2027. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The State Agency for Refugees in Bulgaria prepared the framework for distance learning for children accommodated in the agency's facilities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Bulgaria increased the capacity of two pre-removal facilities (Busmantsi and Lyubimets) from 700 to 1,060 persons. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The State Agency for Refugees started to apply EASO standards to identify vulnerable applicants, and it established two safe zones for unaccompanied children in the reception centre in Sofia, which are operated by the IOM. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The National Refugee Employment and Training Programme in Bulgaria was extended for 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
Some processes related to decisions on Dublin cases were clarified, with the aim to have a more efficient and timely procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Amendments updated the definitions for the terms 'safe country of origin' and 'safe third country' and additional guarantees were added in the law, as foreseen in the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The court has to decide ex officio or at the request of the applicant on the right to stay during an appeal against the rejection of a subsequent application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Law on Asylum and Refugees was amended in a comprehensive manner to bring national legislation more in line with the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. For example, the law allows for gathering expert opinions on a larger range of issues. It provides guidance on gathering and using information for the assessment of a case. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limits for appeal were clarified and a new paragraph was added which underlines that the court decides exofficio or at the applicants request on their right to remain when the appeal concerns a rejected subsequent application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
A draft law aims to amend the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria, including, for example, shorter time limits for appealing decisions on pre-removal detention. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Following amendments, the Law on Asylum and Refugees clearly states that state authorities have an obligation to ensure asylym applicants' access to legal aid. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
An amendment to the Law on Foreigners was adopted which introduced new grounds for refusing to grant stateless status. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The amendments to the Law on Asylum and Refugees in Bulgaria added two new circumstances when international protection status ceases: when a beneficiary passes away or when a person refuses expressly to be recognised as a beneficiary of international protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Law on Foreigners was amended to provide clarification on the return procedure. For example, the country to which a return is to be executed must be indicated in the return decision. Automatic suspensive effect was introduced for an appeal which is filed against an expulsion order issued on the grounds of serious threat to public order. In addition, if it is established by a judicial act that a foreigner subject to a removal order cannot be returned to a country due to a risk to the person's life and liberty or persecution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, an order must be issued which explicitly states the prohibition of return and the state to which the foreigner should not be returned. This order is not subject to appeal. |
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 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Weekly meetings were organised with unaccompanied minors who are subject to proceedings under the Dublin III Regulation. At these meetings, unaccompanied minors are regularly informed of the steps that have been taken regarding their Dublin procedure and of the expected outcome of this procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
A new software was piloted to store files of applicants who are subject to incoming Dublin requests from other states. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
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 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
An amendment to the Law on Foreigners stated that stateless persons who do not meet the requirements for permanent or long-term residence may obtain permission for a one-year prolonged stay. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |