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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 Thematic area Sort descending Development Source
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2021 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Following amendments to the International Protection Act (IPA), two new decrees were adopted on an applicant’s reception rights and accommodations for unaccompanied children, as well as a decree on house rules of the asylum centre. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the Greek Red Cross for support with the provision of material reception conditions, including health services and psychological support. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A complete IT overhaul was implemented in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Malta Flag Malta 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The authorities focused on enforcing contracts signed with applicants for their accommodation to ensure that reception spaces are swiftly available. When appointments are not respected or when there are clear indications that the applicant abandoned the asylum procedure, the International Protection Agency considers the application implicitly withdrawn and informs AWAS, which terminates the reception contract. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Hotel and Accommodation Regulation (HAR) was adopted to support beneficiaries of international protection moving out of reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Sweden Flag Sweden 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The list of municipalities where applicants are not entitled to daily allowance was revised, if they choose to reside there. Out of 32 pre-identified municipalities, 23 are such areas. The changes entered into force 1 January 2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Croatia Flag Croatia 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Two projects to refurbish reception centres in Zagreb and Kutina have started, co-financed by AMIF. The projects aims to improve living and working conditions in both centres. A new project of procurement of equipment, co-financed by AMIF, has also started. Through the project, new equipment for ambulances and newborn children will be purchased. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Following a serious incident, applicants in reception may now be placed temporarily in time-out, a separate, sober place within a reception facility where applicants would only be entitled to material reception conditions in kind, not in cash. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A draft amendment would explicitly include that applicants are under a general travel ban and they could only travel if this is necessary for the asylum procedure or for their removal. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection 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
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2019 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The number of reception places was substantially increased. The Minister for Migration announced the creation of 5 000 additional places. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) started to assign some applicants for international protection to cantons at an earlier stage to alleviate overcrowding in federal reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Spain Flag Spain 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The instruction granted the right to work for working-age unaccompanied minors. ES LEG 02 2019
Ireland Flag Ireland 2019 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The tasks for reception and accommodation were divided into two new sections within the Immigration Service Delivery Function: International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) and International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS). EASO Asylum Report 2020
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Applicants and tolerated persons became entitled to student benefits, and exclusion from the relevant study support under the Twelfth Book of Social Code is no longer applicable to them. DE LEG 02 2019
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An amendment of an ordinance clarified the rules on the absence of an applicant from the reception facility. HR LEG 03 2019
Sweden Flag Sweden 2021 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection 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
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Authorities started working on the development of an overall integrated national reception strategy. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Reception and Identification Centres (RICs/K.Y.T.) and Closed Controlled Access Centres (CCAC/ΚΕΔ) were established and operated on the islands. The Reception and Identification Service took several measures to strengthen safeguards and improve conditions within these facilities. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Ireland Flag Ireland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published a white paper on ending "Direct Provision", and replacing it with a new system, called International Protection Support Service, planned to enter into force in December 2024. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Greece Flag Greece 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The European Commission created a task force on 23 September 2020 to resolve the emergency situation on Lesvos. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Specific projects continued to address and manage more effectively disruptive behaviour in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Poland Flag Poland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Two centres from the Office for Foreigners were lent to the Border Guard due to the need for more capacity in detention. Thus, the capacity in reception facilities temporarily decreased. One of these centres was returned to the Office for Foreigners in mid-June 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Ireland Flag Ireland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Irish government announced its intention at the end of 2020 to reduce the waiting period for asylum applicants from 9 months to 6 months to apply for a work permit. The permission's validity was to be extended from 6 months to 12 months. The new measures were introduced in January 2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection 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