|
Belgium |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Council of Ministers approved in June 2021 a draft law on the organisation of CALL. The proposal aimed to increase the number of judges of CALL and simplify and optimise the appraisal procedure for staff by introducing a comprehensive system of disciplinary and policy measures for officials. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Czech Republic |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
Amendments to the Asylum Act and the Act on Stay of Foreigners stipulated that some provisions of the asylum procedure do not apply to the procedure for recognising statelessness, for example the appointment of a legal representative, having an oral hearing, and an appeal of the decision is not possible. However, the ministry provides an interpreter free of charge and issues a decision within 6 months of submitting the application (which can be extended by another 6 months for complex cases). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Bangladesh and Pakistan were designated as safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens was amended, establishing at the end of a 6-month border procedure, the Migration Department and the State Border Guard Service will decide on the accommodation and restriction of freedom of movement based on the individual situation of each person and the possibility to refuse the lodging of an asylum application in exceptional situations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The new Civic Integration Law entered into force on 1 January 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Legal counsellors must undergo a security check and be granted access to classified information in order to perform activities during the asylum procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Amendments to the Swiss Federal Act on Foreigners and Integration were adopted, imposing a general travel ban on persons with temporary admission as of 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Austria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Ukraine was removed from the list of safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Denmark |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Legislative amendments proposed to deport foreigners who are sentenced to an unconditional prison sentence, regardless of the duration of their stay in the country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The IND amended its policy on Sudan and previously-granted asylum permits will be reassessed if the permit was granted due to the situation in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Germany |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The German parliament adopted a bill allowing for the Federal Administrative Court to decide also on the general asylum situation as it pertains to the situation in the country of origin or destination. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Portugal |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A provisional regularisation process was launched in Portugal, settling the situation of around 365,000 foreigners, including asylum applicants. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A National Registry for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors was created to track the situation and adapt policies, decision-making, reception and other services accordingly. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
An amendment from 2018 to the Asylum Act entered into force on 1 April 2020, which enables the State Secretariat for Migration to pronounce a general travel ban for a group of refugees from a certain country of origin (particularly to neighbouring countries of that country of origin), if there is a well-founded doubt that the travel ban to the country of origin is not respected. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The concept for a new reception and accommodation model (the idea of creating a new model) was approved in Lithuania, and the Ministry of the Interior started the preparations for the necessary legislation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Applications from return facilities (CPR, centro di permanenza per il rimpatrio) and safe countries of origin are assessed within the accelerated procedure. Applications from a safe country of origin will follow the 9-day procedure, while a new ground for the 5-day procedure was established for applicants convicted of serious crimes. The 18-day procedure was revoked. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Norway |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
The Interpretation Act entered into force, obliging public bodies to use a qualified interpreter. It stipulates the requirement of professional conduct, including the duty of confidentiality, by interpreters. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Legislative Decree No 130/2020 opened labour market access to beneficiaries of national forms of protection based on medical reasons or due to natural disasters. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
Amendments clarified that an applicant has the right to free oral interpretation related to the asylum application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
France |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry of the Interior provided instructions to the prefectures on the early examination of residence permit requests of unaccompanied minors under the care of departmental child care services. The objective is to ensure that rights - in particular work permits related to vocational education programmes - do not immediately cease when the minor reaches adulthood. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A Joint Ministerial Decision was issued on the terms of material reception condition under the ESTIA II programme, implementing Law No 4674/2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Hungary |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Government Decree No 233/2020 (V.26.) defined special rules for the asylum procedure and requires applicants to submit a letter of intent at a Hungarian diplomatic mission in a non-EU country prior to their entry to Hungary and application for asylum. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Austria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The UK and Northern Ireland were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Following amendments, the Law on Asylum and Refugees clearly states that state authorities have an obligation to ensure asylym applicants' access to legal aid. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Denmark |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Danish Immigration Service took over some responsibilities of the registration process from the police. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |