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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 ascending Thematic area Development Source
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Negative decisions on Afghan nationals were suspended. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
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
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A new programme Project North was launched in Northern Greece at the end of September 2020 to speed up asylum procedures and conclude pending cases by 2021 in order to alleviate the pressure on accommodation structures. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Belgium Flag Belgium 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Fedasil concluded a cooperation agreement with the construction sector to orient asylum applicants towards employment in construction. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Evidentiary requirements were lightened from women and girl applicants from Afghanistan. International protection was granted in all relevant cases and rejected cases were reopened. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Germany Flag Germany 2022 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services BAMF published a brochure for interpreters with information and recommendations for successful interpretation, a new webpage on interpretation in the asylum procedure, a bilingual terminology list on sexual orientation and gender identity, and an updated version of the booklet for interpreters. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Ireland Flag Ireland 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Immigration detention facilities became operational at Dublin airport. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure Several measures were introduced to speed up the registration process of certain profiles (Afghan evacuees, family members arriving through family reunification and applicants with appointments) and alleviate pressure on the central reception facility in Ter Apel. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
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
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The asylum and reception contingency plan was revised to address the arrival of persons in need of temporary protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Internal guidelines on the conduct of interviews and information-gathering in the asylum procedure were implemented. EASO Asylum Report 2020
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
Sweden Flag Sweden 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups A new electronic personal interview form with child-friendly language and structure was developed. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Spain Flag Spain 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Applications lodged by Venezuelan and other Latin American nationals were prioritised. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection 5 411 new reception places were created. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Finland Flag Finland 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The implementation of the new, revisited monitoring programme of the national reception system was started. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2019 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Development of a screening system for vulnerable applicants was developed in the First Reception Centre “Pournara”, with the tool waiting to be implemented in practice. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Applicants do not need to obtain a separate work permit since 1 January 2019. EASO Asylum Report 2020
France Flag France 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection State-financed language support was increased to 400 hours. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The project, Participation and Language, was extended to all reception centres (AZC). EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new IT system was launched in the arrival centre in Brussels to document residents in accommodation. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Croatia Flag Croatia 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Ministry of the Interior developed standard operating procedures to prevent and address sexual- and gender-based violence in reception centres, in cooperation with UNHCR, Médecins du Monde, the Red Cross and the Croatian Law Centre. 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
Romania Flag Romania 2020 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The regulation on accommodation centres for foreigners taken into public custody was amended and a new chapter was added to regulate the General Inspectorate for Immigration's use of personal data. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Germany Flag Germany 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance BAMF carried out a feasibility study for digital certification processes and digital identity management, publishing a white paper as a first step towards analysing whether certification processes and identities of asylum seekers can be fully digitalised. EUAA Asylum Report 2022