|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new project on alternative accommodation was under development in Lithuania with AMIF co-funding, which would include all reception services. |
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 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners entered into force in January 2020, which granted applicants the right to work if the Migration Department had not taken a decision on their application within 6 months of the lodging and the applicants were not responsible for the delay. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A new definition was adopted for subsequent applications to align it with the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
New guidelines were issued on evidence assessments. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Applicants applying at border crossing points or transit zones are not considered to have entered the territory until a decision to allow entrance is issued. The Migration Department must issue this decision within 48 hours. Applicants refused entry are accommodated at the border crossing points or transit zones for the time of lodging an appeal. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The integration process of beneficiaries of international protection was adjusted. An individual integration plan is proposed to each beneficiary while they are still accommodated at the Refugee Reception Centre. The plan is updated once beneficiaries settle in a municipality in cooperation with the municipality's body in charge of integration. The support services are tailored to each person's specific needs and financial support is defined according to the person's progress and personal efforts |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
An amendment clarified that a return decision cannot be issued pending the examination of an application for international protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The State Border Guard's internal regulations were amended to determine the procedure for children accompanied by an adult applicant who is ordered to be detained. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued humanitarian visas for Belarusians in a shorter timeframe and applicants were required to contact the embassy only once instead of twice. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Support measures for beneficiaries of international protection (refugees and persons with alternative status), reception and accommodation in Latvia continued in 2020 with funding from AMIF, providing integration courses, Latvian language courses, as well as cultural, sports and recreational events and events fostering intercultural communication and co-operation with the local community. Information Centres for Newcomers (ICI) continued to operate in five different location and help newcomers with the orientation of administration and daily life, following their establishment in 2016 with AMIF support. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Latvia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Amendments to the Immigration Law were submitted for approval, shortening the waiting period for applicants to access the labour market from 6 to 3 months. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The maximum length of detention was shortened to 90 days from 180 days. This can be prolonged with an additional 30 days for citizens of a country that has signed repatriation agreement with Italy. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The amendments strengthened the duty of authorities to provide information about a detained applicant's rights and entitlements. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The income and family support measures provided in the Cura Italia Decree, including a EUR 600 allowance, babysitting allowance and COVID-19 special leave, were made accessible to applicants in employment. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A decree law aimed to regularise different residence and employment situations, including the irregular employment of applicants in agriculture, husbandry, fishing, personal assistance services and domestic work. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Council of Ministers adopted a protocol between the government and regions, the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano and local authorities to harmonise the implementation of a multi-disciplinary age-assessment procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Head of the Civil Protection Department in Italy ordered in April 2020 that people who were rescued at sea or who arrived independently by sea needed to quarantine on specially-equipped ships before disembarkation. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Legislative Decree No 34/2020 promoted regularisation on the basis of transforming undeclared work to regular employment in certain labour sectors, and this process could be initiated by asylum applicants as well. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
The National Commission for Asylum in Italy was considering adding new criteria into public tenders to ensure that interpreters have a suitable level of comprehension of the Italian language. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The amendments further clairfied detention conditions. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The grounds for detention were extended: i) when there is a condition for which the rejection of refugee status (for reasons of national security or public order) and exclusion from subsidiary protection status is foreseen and ii) when a subsequent application is issued during the execution of a removal order. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Language courses, psychological assistance and integration activities were re-established for all applicants residing in reception centres. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
|
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 |