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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 Sort ascending Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Amendments to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the rejection decision includes a return decision and a prohibition on entry for 3 years. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the PBGB must update the list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A legal counsellor was assigned to the detention centre to ensure legal aid for detainees. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Cultural Affairs published guidelines for local governments on integration services. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance An updated version of the register of granting international protection (RAKS2) was launched, including new features that allow the inclusion of data on court procedures and an automated process for receiving country of origin information. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A new surveillance measure was introduced, the appearing for counselling. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications A proposition was presented to amend the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens by updating the national list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. The duty to notify the European Commission lies with the Ministry of the Interior. EE LEG 01 2019
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments to the Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act (OLPEA) came into force, providing for the possibility for the PBGB or the Estonian Internal Security Service to detain third-country nationals for up to 48 hours, without the permission of an administrative court, to carry out identification procedures and to determine whether they are subjected to an obligation to leave the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance An amendment clarified that the appeal against the rejection and return decision has a suspensive effect. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens allows the PBGB to request assistance from EASO and to be involved in the processing of an asylum application in the territory of another state, based on an international agreement or an EU act. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The first Estonian Language Houses opened in Tallin and Narva in 2019, offering language courses and facilitating integration. The Welcome Centre in Tartu, Estonia opened to provide information and guidance for all newcomers. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Danish Immigration Services extended processing deadlines and shifted personnel to allow for the prioritisation of applications lodged under the Special Act on Residence Permits for Displaced Persons from Ukraine. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A special legislative piece provides temporary residence permits to persons who have assisted the Danish authorities and have been evacuated from Afghanistan. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance In October 2021, the Danish Refugee Board decided to review cases for citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo who were about to be deported, in light of a report by the Swedish Migration Agency of 24 June 2021. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Legislative Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The list of safe countries of origin was updated, and Russia was removed from the list. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) published a new information package for social workers in local authorities on providing specialised employment support to refugee and migrant women. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Immigration and Integration Affairs published the progress report for 2020 on the Integration Action Plan. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Danish Immigration Services launched a tender and opened a reception centre for applicants with special needs, including those suffering from mental and physical disabilities, mental illnesses, trauma or substance abuse. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Evidentiary requirements were lightened from women and girl applicants from Afghanistan. International protection was granted in all relevant cases and rejected cases were reopened. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection An amendment was made to the criteria for assessing derivative circumstances for cessation, and residence permits of refugees and their family members may be revoked in a wider range of circumstances. DK LEG 01 2019
Denmark Flag Denmark 2021 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Return Act (Hjemrejseloven), the first consolidated law in the field of return, came into force on 1 June 2021. The mandate and responsibilities of the Danish Return Agency are formalised in the act. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Minister for Immigration and Integration decided that the processing of cases for persons with temporary residence permits which were granted on the grounds of the general circumstances in the Damascus area should be accelerated. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Denmark Flag Denmark 2021 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The Refugee Board decided in December 2021 to suspend the processing of cases for Ethiopian nationals. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Legislative amendments proposed to deport foreigners who are sentenced to an unconditional prison sentence, regardless of the duration of their stay in the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Denmark Flag Denmark 2020 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Danish Immigration Service took over some responsibilities of the registration process from the police. EASO Asylum Report 2021