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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 Sort descending Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs Ukraine was removed from the list of safe countries of origin. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the PBGB must update the list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. EASO Asylum Report 2021
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
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Cultural Affairs published guidelines for local governments on integration services. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance An updated version of the register of granting international protection (RAKS2) was launched, including new features that allow the inclusion of data on court procedures and an automated process for receiving country of origin information. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A new surveillance measure was introduced, the appearing for counselling. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance An amendment clarified that the appeal against the rejection and return decision has a suspensive effect. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications A proposition was presented to amend the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens by updating the national list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. The duty to notify the European Commission lies with the Ministry of the Interior. EE LEG 01 2019
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act (OLPEA) came into force, providing for the possibility for the PBGB or the Estonian Internal Security Service to detain third-country nationals for up to 48 hours, without the permission of an administrative court, to carry out identification procedures and to determine whether they are subjected to an obligation to leave the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens allows the PBGB to request assistance from EASO and to be involved in the processing of an asylum application in the territory of another state, based on an international agreement or an EU act. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The first Estonian Language Houses opened in Tallin and Narva in 2019, offering language courses and facilitating integration. The Welcome Centre in Tartu, Estonia opened to provide information and guidance for all newcomers. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An amendment to the Asylum Act entered into force, which describes the modalities and limits of video surveillance in federal reception centres. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The fast-track procedure was re-introduced for nationals of certain countries of origin: countries on the list of safe countries of origin, visa-exempt countries and – because of the high number of weakly-justified claims – Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Swiss Federal Council opened consultations on adjusting the financing of cantonal integration measures under the new Swiss Integration Agenda. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
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
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Country of origin information Country of origin information Training on methodologies, quality standards and visualisations related to COI production was boosted. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2019 Institutional Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Since 1 March 2019, the asylum procedure has been organised into six asylum regions. Each of these regions has a federal asylum centre which conducts the asylum procedure. Supporting divisions remain at the headquarters. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The State Secretariat for Migration assessed the functioning of the asylum system during the COVID-19 pandemic. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Federal Council sought to renew the Central Information System on Migration (SYMIC) and develop new functionalities. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The possibility to impose a travel ban is planned to be extended to persons with temporary admission. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions Resettlement was temporarily suspended due to the influx of displaced persons from Ukraine.. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The State Secretariat for Migration and cantonal authorities signed amendments to the convention on cantonal integration programmes for the implementation of the Swiss Integration Agenda, which includes more funds for cantons to carry out their plans. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure An amendment clarified that minors cannot be held in detention for the purposes of return. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Muslim chaplaincy service is provided on a permanent basis in federal asylum centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Legislative Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation Amendments to LASi provide for access to free legal counselling or representation after an asylum applicant has been transferred to a canton if the services were received while accommodated in a federal centre. The legislative amendment is expected to enter into force in 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022