|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The Immigration Office set up a new department for alternatives to detention. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Courts were added to the Computerized Asylum Service System (CASS) database and case files were incorporated in the system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The national Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings was adopted. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Ministry of Migration and Asylum took over the cash assistance component of the ESTIA programme from UNHCR. The transition entailed policy changes in the entitlements. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Ireland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Specific policies were introduced for the vaccination of asylum applicants, specifying that vaccines are free of charge, on a voluntary basis and by registration to receive an appointment |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Italy |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A new protocol for the protection of 500 individuals from Libya was signed between the Department of the Civil Liberties and Immigration under the Italian Ministry of the Interior, the Sant' Egidio community and the Federazione Chiese Evangeliche Italiane (FCEI). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
To facilitate resettlement in Lithuania, as of April 2021 travel documents issued to refugees by the International Committee of the Red Cross were recognised as valid. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Malta |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The International Protection Agency’s interpreters are bound by a code of conduct to increase professionalism and performance since 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Netherlands |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The coalition agreement foresees changes in the financing of the reception system, to make it more efficient. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Norway |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Information provision on the asylum procedure |
The UDI launched a new website to inform applicants about the current situation in Afghanistan, some also providing a section on frequently asked questions. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovakia |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Migration Office updated its internal instrument used for the identification of special needs and vulnerabilities, by finetuning the procedures for completing an applicant’s social file and by strengthening cooperation among the various actors involved. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Sweden |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal positions on Afghanistan and on person with Tigrayan ethnicity from Ethiopia. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Switzerland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Afghan evacuees were provided with a special temporary residence permit, allowing the newcomers to apply for international protection later once in the country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Amendments to the Law on Foreigners introduced provisions for a swift judicial review of detention. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
An amendment to the Aliens Act extended the time limit to 30 days to submit an appeal against a decision of the Finnish Immigration Service and before the Administrative Court and the Supreme Administrative Court. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Greece |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments introduced that all decisions rejecting requests for international protection should include a return provision. If another return or deportation order is already in force, it must be incorporated in the decision rejecting the application and ordering the return. The period of voluntary departure was shortened to 25 days, which may be extended up to 120 days. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens stated that, in the event of a declaration of martial law, a state of emergency or an emergency due to a mass influx of foreigners, some rights provided to asylum applicants, including interpretation, may be temporarily and proportionally restricted. However, this article was repealed on 1 January 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovakia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A draft amendment to the Asylum Act and other related acts was adopted and put to public consultation, defining and regulating the initial integration of beneficiaries of international protection. The amendments are expected to enter into force in June 2022. |
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 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Interpretation services |
The Finnish Immigration Service was restructured at the end of 2020, and the Legal Services Unit became responsible for assessing interpretation services. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Belgium |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2021 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Germany |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
The COI unit employed more country analysts and formed new regional teams, resulting in a larger production of new country reports. The production line of COI reports was streamlined and an internal peer review was introduced amongst the regional analyst teams. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Ireland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A review of all international protection processes was undertaken and the results were shared in October 2021. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |