|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new health care project was set up with AMIF funding, in cooperation with Medecins du Monde, to tackle the needs of applicants who have been in transit in Bosnia and Herzegovina and who suffer from chronic illnesses or disabilities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Following a serious incident, applicants in reception may now be placed temporarily in time-out, a separate, sober place within a reception facility where applicants would only be entitled to material reception conditions in kind, not in cash. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Denmark |
2020 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Danish Immigration Service reassessed the issuance of residence permits to several hundred Syrians from the Damascus area. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Finnish Immigration Service published a report on the duty of the authorities to clarify and gather information on immigration matters in general, including for asylum applications. The report forms part of the AMIF-funded MISEC project, which aims to strengthen cooperation between immigration and security authorities. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Finland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Following an ECHR decision at the end of 2019, the Finnish Immigration Service reviewed approximately 500 cases. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Germany |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
New AnkER facilities were opened. In 2020, the model has been implemented in 8 of 16 federal states. 7 AnkER facilities have been set up in the state of Bavaria, 1 AnkER facility in each of the states of Saxony and Saarland. In addition to that, seven 'functionally-equivalent facilities' exist nationwide. The functioning of these facilities was evaluated and the results were published in February 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
In the framework of the Consolidated Government Policy Plan 2021, the Prime Minister announced among the main projects related to asylum and migration the establishment of an innovative closed controlled structures on the island and inland with multiple levels of security. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Ireland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Irish International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) implemented a new policy in respect of COVID-19 prevention measures to require applicants who were away from the centre for more than one night without permission to undergo a period of quarantine before readmission to the centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Malta |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
Criteria for the Specific Residence Authorisation (SRA) policy was modified. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The State Secretary for Justice and Security presented the revised list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Following up on the initiative from the State Secretary for Justice and Security, the COA started to accommodate at a separate location in Budel applicants from safe countries of origin and those who have already obtained international protection in another Member State. Applicants receive only basic material reception conditions in kind and stricter reporting obligation applies to them, as they need to report daily and in addition, every time they leave or come back. The location has extra security personnel. Vulnerable applicants cannot be accommodated here. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Council of State suspended the project which aimed to pilot the use of videoconferencing in open centres. This is due to the fact that the Royal Decree on the functioning of the CGRS does not mention this among the competencies of the authority. The project can only continue once the Royal Decree is amended. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The National Refugee Employment and Training Programme in Bulgaria was extended for 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A new community sponsorship programme was activated and the first families arrived to Belgium through this programme at the end of 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Council of Ministers agreed on the creation of an Inter-ministerial Conference on Migration and Integration. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
During the months when personal interviews were halted the focus was on case loads for which an interview had already taken place. Furthermore, the focus during this period was also on cases where it was clear, based on written documents, that the applicant was in need of international protection (mostly Syrians or where a family member had already obtained international protection). Likewise, subsequent applications without any new elements received a decision without an interview. When interviews resumed, priority was given to applicants who were within the reception system of the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil) and already had a status in another EU+ Member State and Brazilian applicants who were already in the country before applying for asylum. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Austria |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Both chambers of the administrative court started deciding on asylum cases and more staff was recruited. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Poland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Polish government announced the introduction of a humanitarian visa scheme for Belarusians from mid-August 2020 onwards. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Spain |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The State Secretary for Migration signed new instructions in December 2020, noting that only recognised beneficiaries of international protection can be referred to the second phase of the national reception system as of 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Minister of Asylum and Migration announced new measures aiming to fight against the abuse of the asylum system. Persons already benefitting from international protection in another EU Member State no longer receive material reception conditions. Dublin applicants who abscond and re-apply for reception following 6 months are also no longer entitled to material reception conditions. Fedasil evaluated these rejections in an individual manner, case-by-case, taking into account any possible vulnerabilities. This policy was withdrawn later in 2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
Applicants had to book an appointment online for their registration between April and October 2020. The first instance tribunal of Brussels ruled that this practice was against the law, hence from 30 October 2020 registration in person started again at the arrival centre, without prior appointment. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |