|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to information |
An amendment to the Law on Asylum and Refugees clarified the role of organisations which provide legal and social assistance. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |
|
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 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The National Refugee Employment and Training Programme in Bulgaria was extended for 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Safe zones for unaccompanied children needed to be restructured. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The State Agency for Refugees updated its standard operating procedures for preventing and responding to sexual- or gender-based violence within the asylum procedure and the new procedures were implemented in cooperation with UNHCR and the State Agency for Child Protection |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Law on Foreigners was amended to provide clarification on the return procedure. For example, the country to which a return is to be executed must be indicated in the return decision. Automatic suspensive effect was introduced for an appeal which is filed against an expulsion order issued on the grounds of serious threat to public order. In addition, if it is established by a judicial act that a foreigner subject to a removal order cannot be returned to a country due to a risk to the person's life and liberty or persecution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, an order must be issued which explicitly states the prohibition of return and the state to which the foreigner should not be returned. This order is not subject to appeal. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
Remote interpretation was used during registration and eligibility interviews in reception centres located outside of the capital, where interpreters are harder to find and employ. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A coordination mechanism was approved to facilitate communication among the authorities and organisations working with unaccompanied and separated children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The State Agency for Refugees started to apply EASO standards to identify vulnerable applicants, and it established two safe zones for unaccompanied children in the reception centre in Sofia, which are operated by the IOM. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The government adopted amendments to the ordinance regulating coordination between the asylum and police (border and immigration) administrations when implementing the Dublin III Regulation. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Bulgaria |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The State Agency for Refugees reviewed internal guidelines and rules and prepared an analysis of national jurisprudence for internal use. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Law on Asylum and Refugees was amended in a comprehensive manner to bring national legislation more in line with the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. For example, the law allows for gathering expert opinions on a larger range of issues. It provides guidance on gathering and using information for the assessment of a case. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Policy |
|
The Dublin procedure |
A new software was piloted to store files of applicants who are subject to incoming Dublin requests from other states. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
For the purposes of family reunification of beneficiaries of international protection, it is clearly stated now that family ties must precede the foreigner's entry into the country. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
Amendments to the Law on Foreigners introduced new grounds for refusing to grant stateless status. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
Some processes related to decisions on Dublin cases were clarified, with the aim to have a more efficient and timely procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Institutional |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A separate Social Adaptation Department was established in the Registration and Reception Centre in Harmanli. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Bulgaria |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
The Dublin procedure |
An amendment was pending approval by the Council of Ministers to modify the “Regulation on responsibilities and coordination of public authorities implementing action on the application of the Dublin III and Eurodac Regulations”. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
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 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A 3-year project providing psychosocial support for people residing in reception centres, conducted by the Croatian Red Cross and co-financed by AMIF, was started in February 2020. The project aims to improve the level of psychosocial support and social activities available in the reception centres. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
In continuation of a previous monitoring mechanism, a new agreement was signed to develop an independent framework to monitor the conduct of police personnel in the Ministry of the Interior who work in the area of irregular migration and international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Croatia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The AMIF-funded project Psychosocial services and support for international protection applicants was signed with the Croatian Red Cross. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new health care project was set up with AMIF funding, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Medecins du Monde. The purpose of the project is the protection of health and prevention of disease among asylum applicants through improved access to initial check-ups and medical consultations in reception centres. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Croatia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Beneficiaries of international protection were granted 280 hours of state-provided language courses. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |