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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 Sort descending Thematic area Development Source
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2019 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services The Migration Office of the Ministry of the Interior issued the guideline, “Procedure of the Provision of Interpretation and Translation Services in the Domain of the Migration Office”. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Switzerland significantly increased the number of accommodation places for asylum applicants and persons in need of temporary protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2019 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Swedish Migration Agency published a legal comment on Sudan leading to the temporary suspension of returns to the country. EASO Asylum Report 2020
United Kingdom United Kingdom 2019 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions A new global resettlement scheme was announced to consolidate the three largest national programmes. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups A safe zone for vulnerable applicants was designed with EASO’s support in the First Reception Centre “Pournara” in Cyprus (not yet operational). EASO Asylum Report 2020
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
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Policy The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The first transfer decision to Greece since 2011 was made. EASO Asylum Report 2020
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
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Executive Officers in the International Protection Office (IPO) were granted the authority for single sign-off on certain cases. Some panel members and case workers are assigned to handle caseloads from specific countries to improve their knowledge for swift decision-making. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Austria Flag Austria 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure In cooperation with UNHCR and the IOM, the Austrian Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) organised regularly training sessions for its staff on identifying special needs and vulnerabilities, interviewing applicants with special needs, and tailoring approaches to specific groups, such as women, children, LGBTIQ applicants and survivors of trafficking in the asylum procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Belgium Flag Belgium 2021 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants By 2022, 80 new staff members are expected to be recruited as return counsellors to organise interviews and information sessions with migrants and rejected asylum seekers living in private housing, who have recently received a return decision. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The registration of job seekers among asylum applicants and the renewal of their unemployment period moved online. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
France Flag France 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The implementation of the “National plan for the reception of asylum applicants and the integration of refugees” started in 2021, with the creation of 4,900 places for applicants and 408 places for recognised beneficiaries of international protection with vulnerabilities. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency published a legal position on Palestinian passports and their assessment within the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Greece Flag Greece 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The payment of financial assistance requires a certification of the applicant’s physical presence in a reception facility since 1 July 2021. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Swedish Migration Agency published a new legal position on practical obstacles to the implementation and enforcement of returns. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Ireland Flag Ireland 2021 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The Irish government established an Afghan Admission Programme with 500 places available under this programme. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) published a new information package for social workers in local authorities on providing specialised employment support to refugee and migrant women. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A new national coordination board dedicated to unaccompanied children was established, with its first meeting foreseen for spring 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection 67 hotel accommodation facilities were planned to be closed by the end of 2020, transferring residents to other inland structures. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Reception structures by type of procedure were established in the initial reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A special task force was created in March 2020 to deal with the backlog of more than 15,000 asylum applications. It handled 8,200 by the end of 2020 and was foreseen to continue its work until mid-2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Malta Flag Malta 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The National Asylum Seekers Management System (NASMS) was improved to better communicate information on individual cases between the International Protection Agency and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Ireland Flag Ireland 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Student Support Scheme for people in the International Protection Process was amended and the requirements to have attended three academic years in the Irish school system and to have obtained the Leaving Certificate in Ireland will no longer apply. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An AMIF-funded project promoted sports, exercise and healthy lifestyle among residents. EUAA Asylum Report 2022