|
Iceland |
2022 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A temporary Council of Ministers for Immigrants and Refugees was appointed by proposal of the Prime Minister and approval of the government. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Poland |
2022 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Department for Refugee Proceedings at the Office for Foreigners was reorganised with more specialised teams to work with specific categories of applicants, such as detained applicants or applicants from specific countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Portugal |
2022 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the creation of a new asylum and migration agency. In addition, the Immigration and Border Service (SEF) will be restructured. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
France |
2022 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A new OFPRA branch office was established in Mayotte for the lodging of applications for international protection in the territory. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The Greek Asylum Service launched a call to extend the Register of Lawyers providing legal aid to applicants for international protection |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Ireland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process assessed the asylum system in Ireland and made specific recommendations to the Legal Aid Board for improvements. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF-funded project, Providing legal advice in the process of granting international protection ended in March 2020, and a new project on the same topic of ensuring access to an effective remedy was announced in November 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF-funded project, Free legal assistance in the process of granting international protection was approved in July 2020 to provide asylum seekers without sufficient funds with access to legal assistance, which consists of: assistance in drawing up a claim, representation in first instance administrative disputes and an exemption from payment of the costs of first instance administrative disputes. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The amendments guaranteed free legal aid throughout the asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
A Joint Ministerial Decision re-defined the criteria to be registered in the Register of Greek and Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations and the Register of Members of Non-Governmental Organisations, which are active in matters of international protection, immigration and social integration within the territory of Greece. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
A Joint Ministerial Decision clarified the implementation rules for the provision of legal aid to applicants for international protection. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Following amendments, the Law on Asylum and Refugees clearly states that state authorities have an obligation to ensure asylym applicants' access to legal aid. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Czech Republic |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs expanded its projects providing individual counselling for applicants. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF-funded asylum procedure information provision, ONE project, was concluded, which facilitated access to legal aid from reception centres and to information throughout the whole asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Croatia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The AMIF project, “Providing legal advice in the process of granting international protection”, was implemented as of 1 April 2019. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Free legal aid was made available to all applicants for international protection during an interview, not only to vulnerable groups. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
People with a legal training but who are not qualified as public legal counsellors can no longer be assigned as legal assistants to third-country nationals in international protection procedures. Pay differences for legal assistants working on international protection cases were eliminated. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens allow restrictions to be placed on contact between legal services providers and asylum applicants during a state of emergency. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Lithuania |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens clarified the scope of free legal assistance as covering solely asylum procedures at the national level and thus excluding cases submitted before European courts. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovakia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
A draft amendment to the Asylum Act and other related acts was adopted and put to public consultation, listing services available to asylum applicants. The amendments are expected to enter into force in June 2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Slovenia |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Legal counsellors must undergo a security check and be granted access to classified information in order to perform activities during the asylum procedure. |
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 |
|
Austria |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The new Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services (BBU, Bundesagentur für Betreuungs- und Unterstützungsleistungen GmbH) started its activities related to legal advice and representation, translation and interpretation services, advice and counselling on returns and human rights monitoring on 1 January 2021. All legal advisors received specialised training on quality assurance. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Germany |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The German parliament adopted a bill replacing state-run counselling with a new system, combining the first stage of counselling by BAMF and independent counselling, financed by the federal government but carried out by welfare associations or other civil society organisations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
The Ministry of the Interior signed a contract with the Croatian Law Centre to carry out an AMIF-funded project, entitled ""Legal guidance in the process of awarding international protection"". |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |