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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
Norway Flag Norway 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Norwegian parliament passed a bill amending the Social Services Act, which requires third-country nationals older than 30 years with insufficient Norwegian knowledge to participate in language training as a condition to receive financial support. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Ireland Flag Ireland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Certain tasks of the Minister for Justice and Equality were transferred to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, including the coordination of the national integration policy, the International Protection Accommodation Services, the International Protection Procurement Services and giving permission to enter and stay in the country for resettlement or temporary protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The New Civic Integration Law entered into force, where newcomers under an integration obligation are guided through the process by municipalities. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
France Flag France 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A draft law was presented to the National Assembly, which would prohibit the regularisation of foreigners in irregular situations, such as former applicants. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Greece Flag Greece 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection A new integration strategy for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection was launched for consultation. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Finnish Immigration Service developed an online course and exam on Finnish society and values. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The act clarified that this rule also applies to unaccompanied minors who reach the age of majority. DE LEG 05 2019
France Flag France 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Legislative amendments introduced the possibility of refusing or withdrawing refugee status from third-country nationals convicted of public support of an act of terrorism. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection All new residence permits became temporary, with the exception of resettled refugees. Permanent residence can be obtained after a minimum of 3 years in the country, and as a general rule, adults applying have to be able to support themselves and their dependant relatives and have decent housing. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position on considering children's age in family reunification procedures, following the CJEU's relevant judgment. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs published the progress report for 2020 on the Integration Action Plan. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Germany Flag Germany 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The BAMF launched a new digital information platform, offering information on integration services. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Social Security and Labour signed a cooperation agreement with the Mykolas Romeris University to provide English or Lithuanian language courses for selected beneficiaries of international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Afghan evacuees were provided with a special temporary residence permit, allowing the newcomers to apply for international protection later once in the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Integration programmes for newcomers became mandatory in Brussels, including for beneficiaries of international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Norway Flag Norway 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Persons granted protection in Norway may obtain a long-term residence permit after 5 years, instead of the previous 3 years, following legislative amendments that entered into force in December 2020. The language knowledge requirement for naturalisation was increased from A2 to B1 level. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A circular simplified the procedure for a refugee to marry in Italy: documentation from the country of origin is no longer needed. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Coordinators were appointed to social welfare centres and branch offices to provide support in accessing social welfare and, more broadly, in fostering inclusion in the local community. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Greece Flag Greece 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The new law requires beneficiaries of international protection to leave the reception facility two months from recognition instead of the previously-applicable six months, at which point social welfare support would also cease. EL LEG 05 2019
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Based on CJEU Case C-550/16, the Aliens Act was amended and applicants reaching the age of 18 during the asylum procedure are considered to be minors for the purposes of family reunification. FI LEG 01 2019
Finland Flag Finland 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Integration Partnership Programme was launched in November 2020 to establish a nationwide network of integration and social inclusion actors. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of the Interior published a circular informing prefectures about the possibility of regularisation on the basis of transforming undeclared work to regular employment. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
France Flag France 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The French National Assembly drafted a report evaluating labour market integration policies of applicants and refugees. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Latvia Flag Latvia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Support measures for beneficiaries of international protection (refugees and persons with alternative status), reception and accommodation in Latvia continued in 2020 with funding from AMIF, providing integration courses, Latvian language courses, as well as cultural, sports and recreational events and events fostering intercultural communication and co-operation with the local community. Information Centres for Newcomers (ICI) continued to operate in five different location and help newcomers with the orientation of administration and daily life, following their establishment in 2016 with AMIF support. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The introduction of the new civic integration system is further postponed and it is foreseen to be launched on 1 January 2022 instead of 1 July 2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021