Skip to main content

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 ascending Development Source
Germany Flag Germany 2020 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The federal government published a report on the situation of unaccompanied foreign minors in Germany. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2020 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The State Agency for Refugees started to apply EASO standards to identify vulnerable applicants, and it established two safe zones for unaccompanied children in the reception centre in Sofia, which are operated by the IOM. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A resolution was adopted to outline the national action plans for combating trafficking in human beings, according to the 2020 recommendations from GRETA. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The establishment of locally-competent Units for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors in EKKA are planned according to a new law. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2021 Institutional Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Finnish Immigration Service became entirely responsible for providing guidance on, planning and monitoring the guardianship of unaccompanied children in 2020, and this new arrangement started to be implemented in 2021. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Special Act was adopted to increase the penalty for trafficking in human beings to imprisonment from 10 to 15 years or 25 years. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the police and the Social Welfare Service on the referral, handling, protection and briefing of potential and recognised victims of trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Portugal Flag Portugal 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The government launched a 2-year project to improve prevention, protection and support to victims of human trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2021 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure Amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA) clarified that unaccompanied children should be accommodated in child-friendly institutions instead of reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Norway Flag Norway 2020 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure An internal review of 54 return cases from 2019 took place in the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) in order to examine how UNE assesses what is in the best interests of the child in return cases. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Iceland Flag Iceland 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Directorate of Immigration was developing new standard operating procedures for applicants with disabilities and mental health issues. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure As of 1 November 2021, the care of unaccompanied minors aged over 17.5 years was taken over by the COA and the minors were accommodated in regular reception places. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A protocol was approved to establish common criteria for professionals who work with applicants and beneficiaries of international protection to detect and prevent gender-based violence in reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position on assessing the best interests of the child. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Austria Flag Austria 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The scope of the term family was widened. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The National Action Plan 2022-2025 was adopted with long-term strategies and actions aimed at raising awareness, better prevention and the social integration of victims of trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Law on Asylum and Refugees was amended to address shortcomings in the identification, legal representation and age assessment procedure for unaccompanied children. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2021 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure Amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA) ensured that unaccompanied children have continued legal representation even after a decision is given on their asylum application. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The State Agency for Refugees established a pilot programme of self-care and well-being classes for women in the reception and registration centre Vrazhdebna in Sofia. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
France Flag France 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure Discussions were underway to revise the methods for an age assessment, in particular related to bone X-rays. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency published a new legal position on the examination of the best interests of the child. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Sweden Flag Sweden 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position from 2015 on the investigation and assessment of a future risk of persecution for applicants claiming asylum due to sexual orientation or gender identity. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A new government regulation was adopted allowing the adult accompanying a child to be appointed as a legal guardian even if they do not have legal custody. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
France Flag France 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A draft law was adopted by the senate which aims to improve and simplify processes for the support of vulnerable minors. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Greece Flag Greece 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Reception and Identification Service (RIS) created and deployed a team of case management assistants for reception facilities under its responsibility throughout Greece to ensure the identification of needs, referral and follow-up for all persons residing in reception facilities. A standard operating procedure was drafted to create a harmonised system for case management in first- and second-line reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2023