|
Romania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The new National Strategy on Immigration 2021-2024 was approved, together with the Action Plan to implement the national strategy, with objectives related to making the national asylum system more efficient. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The National Resettlement Programme was approved foreseeing the resettlement of 1,200 refugees in 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Swedish Migration Agency issued a new legal position to clarify that municipalities and regions are entitled to be reimbursed for the care of unaccompanied children from the moment they express their wish to apply for asylum. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Council of Ministers approved in June 2021 a draft law on the organisation of CALL. The proposal aimed to increase the number of judges of CALL and simplify and optimise the appraisal procedure for staff by introducing a comprehensive system of disciplinary and policy measures for officials. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Czech Republic |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
Amendments to the Asylum Act and the Act on Stay of Foreigners stipulated that some provisions of the asylum procedure do not apply to the procedure for recognising statelessness, for example the appointment of a legal representative, having an oral hearing, and an appeal of the decision is not possible. However, the ministry provides an interpreter free of charge and issues a decision within 6 months of submitting the application (which can be extended by another 6 months for complex cases). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Bangladesh and Pakistan were designated as safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens was amended, establishing at the end of a 6-month border procedure, the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service will decide on the accommodation and restriction of freedom of movement based on the individual situation of each person and the possibility to refuse the lodging of an asylum application in exceptional situations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The new Civic Integration Law entered into force on 1 January 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Legal counsellors must undergo a security check and be granted access to classified information in order to perform activities during the asylum procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Amendments to the Swiss Federal Act on Foreigners and Integration were adopted, imposing a general travel ban on persons with temporary admission as of 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The State Secretary for Asylum and Migration announced that children, applicants with vulnerabilities and first-time applicants have priority to receive reception over applicants who have already sought asylum in another EU Member State. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The State Agency for Refugees updated its standard operating procedures for preventing and responding to sexual- or gender-based violence within the asylum procedure and the new procedures were implemented in cooperation with UNHCR and the State Agency for Child Protection |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Denmark |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Refugee Board decided in December 2021 to suspend the processing of cases for Ethiopian nationals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
France |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
An instruction with guidelines on reception policies for resettled refugees was approved, establishing the division of responsibilities for the reception of resettled refugees between central administrations and funded organisations, the regional distribution and the monthly calendar for 2021 arrivals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Iceland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Venezuelan applicants are no longer automatically granted subsidiary protection due to the general circumstances in the home country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Italy |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Italian authorities issued a tender for the rental of five private vessels to accommodate migrants rescued at sea during the period of quarantine. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Latvia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
A state of emergency was declared in August 2021. The Cabinet of Ministers authorised the State Border Guard, the National Armed Forces and the State Police to order any person illegally crossing the border from Belarus to return to the country from which they have crossed and to take the necessary measures to enforce the order. During the emergency phase, asylum applications were accepted only outside the areas under the state of emergency. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Malta |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
Several changes were made to practices to improve access to the asylum procedure, which included improvements to office premises, streamlining registration and lodging procedures, issuing updated registration guidelines, and providing information on specialised services to applicants with a sexual orientation or gender identity claim. Improvements to the electronic database were also made in order to further streamline registration and lodging procedures. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The registration process was reorganised and separate streams were set up in specific locations for Afghan evacuees and for persons arriving through family reunification. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
A new policy was launched to naturalise approximately 8,000-10,000 persons who were regularised earlier, the so-called RANOV permit holders. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Portugal |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position on the medical examination of applicants invoking physical or psychological harm to support their asylum claim. |
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 |