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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 Development Sort descending Source
Croatia Flag Croatia 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The national authorities concluded standard operating procedures on sexual and gender-based violence with UNHCR and national NGOs towards the end of 2020, aiming to start implementation as soon as possible. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Norway Flag Norway 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The national budget was revised to employ more experts working with children in reception facilities, following the increasing number of arrivals from Ukraine. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Interpretation services 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
France Flag France 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The National Court of Asylum (CNDA) signed an agreement with the bar association on the implementation of video hearings. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Ireland Flag Ireland 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Integration Fund 2020 was launched, with EUR 2.2 million total funding for a 3-year period. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Plan on the Integration of Migrants of the Republic of Cyprus was released for public consultation at the end of 2020. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2019 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The National Reception Office (ONA, Office nationale de l'accueil) was established. LU LEG 02 2019
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Refugee Employment and Training Programme in Bulgaria was extended for 2020. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The National Resettlement Programme was approved foreseeing the resettlement of 1,200 refugees in 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The National Strategic Plan against Human Trafficking for 2021-2023 was adopted. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The National Strategy on Migration was adopted for the period 2021-2025. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Belgium Flag Belgium 2021 Policy The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Netherlands and Belgium concluded an agreement to replace PCR tests by a quarantine before departure. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Netherlands Forensic Institute changed its practice based on a recent literature review, and since October 2022, applicants with a mature collarbone are considered to be at least 18 years old, instead of 20 years. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Germany Flag Germany 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The new act clarified that if the reason for an applicant to move to another federal state becomes obsolete three months from the move, then the first federal state must continue to bear integration costs for three years. DE LEG 05 2019
Cyprus Flag Cyprus 2019 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The new Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) began operating as of 18 June 2019. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The new Civic Integration Law entered into force on 1 January 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The New Civic Integration Law entered into force, where newcomers under an integration obligation are guided through the process by municipalities. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Austria Flag Austria 2021 Institutional Legal representation and assistance 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
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The new first-reception centre started its operations at the beginning 2021, and staff optimised processes and information flows. Particular focus was given to promote voluntary returns for applicants with little chances of being recognised to avoid forced returns. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Croatia Flag Croatia 2019 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The new Foster Care Act entered into force, whereby unaccompanied minors can stay with a foster family. HR LEG 01 2019
Norway Flag Norway 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The new Integration Act was adopted in Norway and entered into force in January 2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Greece Flag Greece 2019 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The new law provides new time limits to submit appeals, schedule hearings on appeal depending on the day of the submission of an appeal, and issue appeals decisions. It provides for the suspensive effect of appeals for deportation, readmission and return procedures. EL LEG 05 2019
Greece Flag Greece 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The new law requires beneficiaries of international protection to leave the reception facility two months from recognition instead of the previously-applicable six months, at which point social welfare support would also cease. EL LEG 05 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The new National Plan for the Integration of Beneficiaries of International Protection 2022-2024 was adopted. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Romania Flag Romania 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The new National Strategy on Immigration for 2021-2024 was launched in Romania, including special objectives on integration. EUAA Asylum Report 2022