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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 Sort descending Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A presidential decree was adopted clarifying that the authorities need to examine the conversion of unaccompanied children’s residence permits on a case-by-case basis when they reach adulthood. Residence permits based on integration can be issued until the age of 21. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Detained applicants can address petitions and complaints to the national, regional and local ombudspersons. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of the Interior published a circular clarifying that the special permit based on the principle of non-refoulement can be requested directly from the police (questura). EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The new regulation for pre-removal detention centres (CPR) was published, followed by a circular from the Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration on its implementation. The circular regulates access to the centres, the services provided, communication, visits as well as monitoring and controls. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Applications submitted in detention, a hotspot or a repatriation centre are no longer prioritised. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of the Interior signed a memorandum of understanding with civil society organisations (Rete per la Parità, Le Contemporanee, the National Council of Italian Women and the Italian division of Soroptimist International) to support the reception and integration of Afghan evacuees. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure A new code of conduct for NGOs carrying out rescues at sea entered into force. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection SIPROIMI was transformed into SAI (System for Reception and Integration). Asylum applicants can now access these reception centres. However, a distinction between services provided to different profiles is made: only beneficiaries of protection can benefit from labour orientation and professional training. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2019 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications New Inter-ministerial Decree defined a list of safe countries of origin. IT LEG 03 2019
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure Government authorities entered into an agreement with the Italian Red Cross to provide support to the persons onboard the vessels and initiate the identification of vulnerable persons. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The procedure for a decision on the suspensive effect of an appeal in the second instance has to be taken by the court in a collegial decision. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The list of circumstances in which protection against refoulement applies was extended. In addition to cases where a foreigner is at risk of being subjected to torture in the country of origin, the list includes cases where a person may be subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment and where there is a risk of a violation of the right to respect for private and family life. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The National Action Plan 2022-2025 was adopted with long-term strategies and actions aimed at raising awareness, better prevention and the social integration of victims of trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Department of Civil Liberties and Migration published an operational handbook on the identification and reception of unaccompanied children. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Legislative Decree No 130/2020 created a special 2-year permit based on respect of the non-refoulement principle. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Italy launched a new digital platform to facilitate the family reunification procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Decree Law No 139 provided for the creation of 3,000 new places for families in the System for Reception and Integration (SAI). EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The Ministry of the Interior’s Department of Civil Liberties and Migration issued a circular to disseminate an operational guide on the specific needs of women and girls in reception to first-contact reception staff. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A new regulation was adopted to consolidate in one legislative piece the tasks of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies related to unaccompanied minors. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The maximum length of detention was shortened to 90 days from 180 days. This can be prolonged with an additional 30 days for citizens of a country that has signed repatriation agreement with Italy. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure Italy requested the temporary suspension of incoming Dublin transfers due to a lack of reception places. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Italian government shared clarifications on the process of and the requirements for converting the permit of an unaccompanied minor to a work permit. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The use of quarantine vessels was extended until the end of May 2022. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The amendments strengthened the duty of authorities to provide information about a detained applicant's rights and entitlements. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of the Interior issued a decree modifying previous tender specifications by increasing the per capita amount awarded to managing organisations of reception facilities in order to cover psychological support, social and local guidance, and language courses. EUAA Asylum Report 2022