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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 Sort descending Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The CGRS implemented a quality control process for gender-related cases, starting with cases which invoked sexual orientation as a ground to monitor the application of its Sexual Orientation Guideline. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A legal counsellor was assigned to the detention centre to ensure legal aid for detainees. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The number of places was substantially increased in France, including the creation of a new type of reception facility in Île-de-France (CAIR). EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Policy The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Immigration Office increased its staff working on Dublin cases. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The implementation of the new payment card system continued. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Latvia Flag Latvia 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Culture in Latvia launched language clubs, co-funded by AMIF, in five cities. The Latvian Language Agency developed new e?learning material (e-Laipa) for A1 and A2 levels. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2019 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants An amendment to the Aliens Circular (Vc) was enacted: while in principle after the rejection of the first asylum application a departure period is granted, exceptions to the rule were extended concerning (among other things) apparently unfounded applications and applications predominantly based on socio-economic grounds. NL LEG 02 2019
Sweden Flag Sweden 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Applicants are not entitled to daily allowance anymore if they choose to reside in specific areas with high rates of immigrants and socio-economic challenges (32 municipalities listed), in order to avoid segregation. SE LEG 02 2019
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2019 Institutional The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Dublin Unit of the Directorate of Immigration was moved from the Return Unit, Department for Returns to the Asylum Unit, Department for Refugees. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure 500 additional return detention places were created in regular prisons – in separated premises from inmates - temporarily until 2022, next to the existing 500 special return places. DE LEG 03 2019
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The scope of tolerated status related to education was extended and includes education and training for care services (Helfer- und Assistenzausbildungen) in occupations with shortages of employees. Tolerated persons receive a two-year residence permit if they directly continue to work upon completing their education. DE LEG 06 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The decree identified border or transit zones in several provinces and established two additional sections of the Territorial Commissions in Apulia and Sicily. IT LEG 02 2019
Austria Flag Austria 2019 Legislative Country of origin information Country of origin information Namibia, the Republic of Korea and Uruguay were added to the list of countries considered to be safe countries of origin. AT LEG 05 2019
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The list of grounds for subsequent applications was extended in July 2019 if there is reason to believe that asylum or subsidiary protection for the purpose of family reunification will be granted. CZ LEG 01 2019
France Flag France 2019 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure An Inter-Ministerial Instruction established a new protocol model to manage applications lodged from detention. FR LEG 08 2019
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The number of reception places was substantially increased. The Minister for Migration announced the creation of 5 000 additional places. EASO Asylum Report 2020
United Kingdom United Kingdom 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The guidance on age assessment was updated. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Austria Flag Austria 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Asyl-Train project implemented by IOM Austria continued in 2019 and provided training to relevant national authorities and service providers to help identify trafficked persons in the framework of the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A Quality Control Unit was established within the Asylum Service, with participation of experts from the Asylum Service, EASO and UNHCR. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups OFPRA published its new asylum guide for unaccompanied minors. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The Management Board of OFPRA decided to maintain the current list of safe countries of origin but the situation in Benin will be reviewed within six months. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The method of issuing or extending residence permits for beneficiaries of international protection were simplified. The documents are no longer re-issued and a new expiration date is noted directly on the existing permit. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The Department of Justice and Equality launched a community sponsorship programme. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Law on Social Inclusion Income (REVIS) entered into force on 1 January 2019. All beneficiaries of international protection and their family members aged 25 or older can benefit from the social inclusion income. LU LEG 04 2019
Spain Flag Spain 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The instruction granted the right to work for working-age unaccompanied minors. ES LEG 02 2019