|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
The Border Guard Act was amended to allow the authorities to centralise the reception of applicants at the border during an exceptionally high number of arrivals. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The new Victim Support Act entered into force, which aims to further improve the availability and quality of victim support services, for example for victims of human trafficking. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Amendments were made to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens. In a state of emergency, border guards are allowed to return persons entering in an unauthorised manner without an individual decision. Applications for international protection can be submitted only at designated locations. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Estonia |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Ukraine was removed from the list of safe countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Denmark |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The suspension of the processing of cases by Ethiopian nationals was lifted by the Coordination Committee of the Refugee Appeals Board, which found that the nature of the situation in the capital city did not amount to a risk for any person of Tigrayan ethnicity to be arrested, mistreated or assaulted. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Denmark |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Legislative amendments were adopted on modifying the criteria to obtain permanent residence or family reunification. The person applying for family reunification with a child, a spouse or cohabitant should, as a rule, not have been convicted of 'negative social control' in the last 10 years. The person applying for permanent residence must not have been convicted of an unsuspended sentence of at least 60 days for 'negative social control'. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Denmark |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Czech Republic |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was amended. Ukraine was removed, while Armenia and the UK were included. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Czech Republic |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The reasons for excluding from or ending international protection were expanded following a legislative amendment. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Czech Republic |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Ministry of the Interior launched a mapping project on the situation of child trafficking and created ""Human Trafficking Indicators Cards"" to help professionals better identify possible victims of human trafficking. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the police and the Social Welfare Service on the referral, handling, protection and briefing of potential and recognised victims of trafficking. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The time limit for the International Protection Administrative Court to issue a decision on an appeal is 7 days from the registration of the appeal with the court. An appeal against such decisions must be lodged within 10 days from the notification. If the challenged decision is a detention order, the IPAC must issue its decision within 2 days. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The asylum services prioritised applications submitted in detention and at police stations. Due to an increase of the number of applicants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and from other African countries, Cyprus examined these applications with priority. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was revised and Ukraine was removed from the list. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The rules of procedures of the Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) were amended making the applicant's presence before the court mandatory, whether in person or represented by a lawyer, without which the appeal could be rejected, except in situations of force majeure. Applicants or their lawyer now have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their supporting arguments, unless extended by the court when deemed necessary. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
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 |
|
Croatia |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The government adopted a decision to develop the National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings 2022-2027. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |