|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A Royal Decree was introduced to facilitate the process of granting residence and work permits for unaccompanied children in Spain. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Spain |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Organic Law 8/2021 was introduced to clarify the principles of the age assessment procedure, including standards and consent for medical tests, procedures to follow in case the age cannot be established and respect for the child's dignity. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Legislative changes to the Aliens Act were introduced allowing the Migration Agency to reject an application as manifestly unfounded when the applicant comes from a country included in the list of safe countries of origin. The decision becomes immediately enforceable with no automatic suspensive effect or the right to remain pending the outcome of an appeal procedure. The agency published a corresponding legal position. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
A list of safe countries of origin was adopted, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Georgia, Kosovo, Mongolia, Northern Macedonia and Serbia. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Swedish government established an inquiry on an orderly initial reception of asylum seekers. The inquiry is tasked to propose measures to ensure that asylum seekers choose to live in the Swedish Migration Agency's accommodation throughout the asylum period, propose how a statutory obligation to participate in social introduction can be formulated, consider the scope of persons covered under the Law on Reception of Asylum Seekers and Others, and review the scope of benefits covered by this act. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Social orientation classes became obligatory in Sweden for all applicants as soon as possible after an application for asylum has been registered. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The Act on Swedish Citizenship was amended to grant a stateless person holding a temporary residence permit the right to obtain Swedish citizenship, following amendments in the Aliens Act. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
All new residence permits became temporary, with the exception of resettled refugees. Permanent residence can be obtained after a minimum of 3 years in the country, and as a general rule, adults applying have to be able to support themselves and their dependant relatives and have decent housing. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A number of amendments to the regulatory framework concerning resettlement were adopted to enable greater flexibility in acute situations, such as the Afghanistan situation. According to a government decision, the requirement that a person must be in a third country to be eligible for resettlement was temporarily removed. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A parliamentary initiative was adopted on the obligation to cooperate in the asylum procedure, which includes the possibility of checking an applicant’s mobile phone. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to LASi provide for access to free legal counselling or representation after an asylum applicant has been transferred to a canton if the services were received while accommodated in a federal centre. The legislative amendment is expected to enter into force in 2022. |
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 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
A number of legislative changes were adopted in the area of asylum and return, including compulsory COVID-19 tests for a person subject to a return, expulsion measure or a Dublin transfer, even against their will. |
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 |
|
Austria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Financing for people in reception was increased, after the Austrian Federal Parliament approved an amendment to the agreement between the federal state and the provinces. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Austria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
New rules on orientation courses entered into force, including the extension of the obligatory orientation course from 1 to 3 days and the inclusion of modules on gender equality, antisemitism and the importance of voluntary work. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Belgian Council of Ministers approved the structure of the new Migration Code. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A legal amendment explicitly allowed the CGRS to organise interviews through videoconference for applicants for international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
CALL launched a digital tool on 1 March 2022, entitled J-BOX, to exchange procedural documents electronically instead of using registered mail. The use of the tool became mandatory in appeals for accelerated and urgent measures. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The government pledged to introduce a new legal status for stateless persons which would give them the right to legally reside in Belgium if they cannot return to their country of habitual residence. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
Amendments to the Nationality Code clarified that recognition as a stateless person was not required to grant Belgian nationality to a child born in Belgium without a nationality. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The government announced its intention to create a separate right of residence through family reunification for parents of children who are recognised beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Integration programmes for newcomers became mandatory in Brussels, including for beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Bulgaria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The government adopted amendments to the ordinance regulating coordination between the asylum and police (border and immigration) administrations when implementing the Dublin III Regulation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |