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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 Type of development Thematic area Sort descending Development Source
Greece Flag Greece 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The asylum authority’s website was enhanced to make content accessible to persons with disabilities, such as dyslexia and visual impairments. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Malta Flag Malta 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The International Protection Agency expanded a booklet to include more information on the asylum procedure and began developing booklets specifically for unaccompanied minors and beneficiaries of protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
France Flag France 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information Welcome booklets for beneficiaries of protection were updated. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Belgium Flag Belgium 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information A campaign was set up to combat irregular migration from Guinea in response to their increased number of applications. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Ireland Flag Ireland 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information A new website was launched with information on international protection, such as statistics, types of protection and procedures to follow. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
United Kingdom United Kingdom 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information Two new information guides were published on rights, expectations and support offered to applicants staying in temporary accommodation. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2019 Legislative Access to information Access to information An amendment to the Law on Asylum and Refugees clarified the role of organisations which provide legal and social assistance. BG LEG 01 2019
Iceland Flag Iceland 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information A new web application was launched to provide information to asylum applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information The Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities updated its “Guide for Integration – Basic Information for the Integration of Foreigners into Croatian Society”. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The State Agency for Refugees presented a video of social services available to unaccompanied minors. The video was produced by UNHCR and is available in Arabic, Bulgarian, Dari, English and Pashto. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information The website, Asylum in Finland, maintained by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, was improved. New information leaflets and videos with simple terminology were developed for applicants in the framework of the AMIF-funded ONE project. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2020 Institutional Access to information Access to information The Ministry of the Interior took over the information provision sessions, after the expiry of a contract with an NGO who was previously charged with this task. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information Vulnerable persons are now notified about the right to a medical examination to detect signs of persecution or serious harm. This information is included in the document in which applicants provide data for an application. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The IND started to modernise the digital system so that the latest information is rapidly available, such as the status of an application and when a decision is expected. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Access to information Access to information The COA published a new brochure for employers Newcomers on their way to work - Guide for employers, providing information to facilitate the employment of beneficiaries of international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Ireland Flag Ireland 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) published a leaflet on Internet safety which was targeted at both staff and parents of children who are housed in accommodation centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Czech Flag Czech Republic 2019 Legislative Access to information Access to information Free legal advice must be available in each asylum facility. CZ LEG 01 2019
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information Fedasil launched a multi-lingual information platform for applicants for international protection, www.fedasilinfo.be, accessible only from Belgium and available in 12 languages. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The Fedasil Info Point was reopened in 2023 next to the Bordet reception centre with expanded tasks to support applicants residing outside of the reception network, migrants in transit and people without a legal residence. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Policy Access to information Access to information The Ministry of Migration and Asylum launched an online helpdesk for beneficiaries of international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Policy Access to information Access to information The Refugee Reception Centre launched lectures for refugees and asylum applicants on the differences in status, rights and responsibilities, as well as general information on Lithuania (history, geography, education labour law, domestic violence, medical services, etc). With the use of new technologies, the Rukla Refugee Reception Centre also provided similar information through its new Facebook social network account. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information A new website with information for asylum applicants was launched in February 2023 (it is only accessible from within the country). EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information An information kiosk was set up in Pournara where applicants can seek information on the status of their file and ask questions about the asylum procedure in general. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Access to information Access to information The Asylum Act was complemented with Article 12a, which regulates the modalities of BAMF counselling on asylum procedures for applicants. DE LEG 03 2019
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information The authorities launched an information campaign in Nigeria warning about the realities of the journey and arrival in Cyprus. EUAA Asylum Report 2024