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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
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
Belgium Flag Belgium 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Flemish government adopted a new integration path for newcomers which includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and sponsorship by a Flemish 'buddy') and will conclude with an exam. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Temporary measures aimed to restrict family reunification until 31 December 2023. A visa was only issued to a family member when the assigned municipality notified that suitable accommodation had been found for the recognised beneficiary and the family members planning to join. Following Council of State rulings, the measure was abolished in February 2023. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The government appointed an inquiry commission to assess making language knowledge and knowledge of the Swedish society requirements for acquiring permanent residence in Sweden. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
France Flag France 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection State-financed language support was increased to 400 hours. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Norway Flag Norway 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A legislative proposal for a new Integration Act was introduced, re-shaping the integration programme for refugees. NO LEG 01 2019
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A draft amendment to the Asylum Act and other related acts was adopted and put to public consultation, defining and regulating the initial integration of beneficiaries of international protection. The amendments are expected to enter into force in June 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
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
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The State Secretary for Justice and Security announced that the so-called guest arrangement (logeerregeling) for beneficiaries of international protection will continue and is planned to be expanded. Under this arrangement, beneficiaries of international protection may volunteer to be placed with a host family, family or friends, while they are in wait for their definitive housing arrangement. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Belgium Flag Belgium 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Immigration Office provided detailed guidance on the exceptional circumstances to extend the validity of family reunification decisions and the validity of supporting documents. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Croatia Flag Croatia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Croatian Action Plan for the Integration of Persons Granted International Protection was developed in 2020 and is foreseen to be implemented throughout 2021-2023. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Refugee Employment and Training Programme in Bulgaria was extended for 2020. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Germany Flag Germany 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Act on the Acceleration of Asylum Court Proceedings and the Asylum Procedure abandoned the routine revision of the international protection status 3 years after the first final decision. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A draft amendment would allow persons with temporary admission to change their assigned canton if they follow a long-term vocational training or are employed in another canton EASO Asylum Report 2021
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection An amendment to the Immigration Law was presented to the parliament, which aimed to simplify the family reunification procedure in general and to extend the time limit for facilitated family reunification criteria for beneficiaries of international protection from 3 months to 6 months. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Integration centres for foreigners were opened in two provinces in March 2022 as a part of the project “Building structures for the integration of foreigners in Poland - Stage II – piloting Foreigners Integration Centres”. EUAA Asylum Report 2023