|
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 |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The court has to decide ex officio or at the request of the applicant on the right to stay during an appeal against the rejection of a subsequent application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Amendments updated the definitions for the terms 'safe country of origin' and 'safe third country' and additional guarantees were added in the law, as foreseen in the recast Asylum Procedures Directive. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Flemish government adopted a new integration path for newcomers which includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and sponsorship by a Flemish 'buddy') and will conclude with an exam. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
In order to fill gaps in labour market shortages caused by the pandemic, applicants were exceptionally exempted from the 4-month waiting period until 30 June 2020. In view of the continuing shortage of workers in some sectors due to the closing of the borders, this measure was resumed from December 2020 until 30 June 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Belgium adopted an exceptional regulation which temporarily allowed an additional procedural document to be submitted when the appeal was restricted to a written procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Council of Ministers approved a law proposal and a draft royal decree, which aims to adapt the working methods of the CALL to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The amendments concern the electronic communication of procedural documents and the written procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The new Royal Decree establishing the list of safe countries of origin entered into force. The list itself includes the same countries. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Austria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The scope of the term family was widened. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Austria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The BFA Procedures Law and the Asylum Law were temporarily amended until 31 December 2020, so that unaccompanied minors can be transferred directly to a regional directorate or field office to launch an asylum application, without passing through a first reception centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The State Secretariat for Migration and cantonal authorities signed amendments to the convention on cantonal integration programmes for the implementation of the Swiss Integration Agenda, which includes more funds for cantons to carry out their plans. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A new multiannual resettlement policy framework for 2020-2023 was established in the Netherlands, including a commitment to resettling 2,000 refugees in 4 years. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Norway |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The arrival centre was re-organised in Norway to include multiply stakeholders within the same centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Norway |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
As of March 2020, standard support assistance may be increased in order to ease the return and reintegration process, for example for returnees with special medical needs or if it is assessed to be more cost-effective for Norwegian society. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Romania |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Depending on the claims made and documentation available, authorities prioritised applicants from Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Pakistan and Tunisia. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Slovenia |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Additional staff were hired to tackle the pending backlog of cases and shorten delays in the asylum procedure. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The list of municipalities where applicants are not entitled to daily allowance was revised, if they choose to reside there. Out of 32 pre-identified municipalities, 23 are such areas. The changes entered into force 1 January 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new governmental project is planned to be implemented in 2021, obliging applicants to attend a 1-day information session about the host society. The programme has existed for several years, but it was implemented as a voluntary 2- to 3-hour session. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Swedish Public Employment Service started to roll out the Intensive Year programme for newly-arrived beneficiaries of international protection, which aims to get participants in employment within a year after the completion of the comprehensive, full-time integration programme. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Swedish government decided to finance the extension of labour market integration programmes for 12 months to support people whose programme would finish in the midst of the pandemic |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Swedish government tasked several national bodies, including the police and the Swedish Migration Agency, to analyse the factors that prevent the enforcement of a decision on a refusal of entry or return. |
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The State Agency for Refugees in Bulgaria prepared the framework for distance learning for children accommodated in the agency's facilities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Bulgaria increased the capacity of two pre-removal facilities (Busmantsi and Lyubimets) from 700 to 1,060 persons. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |