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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 Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
France Flag France 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The General Directorate for Foreigners in France launched a telephone support centre for employees of the local orientation platforms (SPADA) and reception centres. EASO Asylum Report 2021
France Flag France 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of the Interior posted several IT tools online to support language learning and social orientation for newcomers. EASO Asylum Report 2021
France Flag France 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A decree amended the terms of state-financing related to the reception of persons declaring to be unaccompanied children. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Government Programme's proposal was under examination to eliminate the sufficient financial resources criteria for family reunifications initiated by minor beneficiaries of international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The age limit for follow-up care for unaccompanied children was extended from 21 years to 25 years. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Ministry of the Interior launched a project to assess the impact of future migration trends on immigration administration, especially on the functioning of and resources for the Finnish Immigration Service. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance 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
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The new, general medical screening protocol in Finland, developed through the AMIF-funded TERTTU project, was launched and started to be implemented in 2020. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Ministry of the Interior launched an update of the action plan for preventing illegal entry and residence for the period 2021-2024. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A working group has been set up to draw up a new act to assist victims of human trafficking. The working group's mandate runs until the end of 2022. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Finnish Immigration Service started to notify applicants, whenever possible, through phone or videoconferencing about the decision on their application. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A new act entered into force regulating the processing of personal data by all authorities involved in migration affairs. Corresponding amendments were made in the Reception Act, the Immigration Detention Act, the Integration Act and the Citizenship Act. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services The Finnish Immigration Service developed a quality assurance system for the interpretation services used during asylum interviews, in the framework of the AMIF-funded Tulppaani project. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The reception centres have started using the electronic skills assessment form, which was developed as part of the AMIF-funded OSAKA project and which finalised in 2019. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Employment and the Economy commissioned a joint study on the community sponsorship model to evaluate its feasibility within the Finnish context. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of the Interior launched a project for preparing a series of legislative amendments that would ensure improved management of large-scale arrivals. The Reception Act and the Immigration Detention Act are both planned to be amended. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A temporary amendment was passed to the Aliens Act to extend the period of an applicant's right to work. Applicants were temporarily able to work in agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries without a waiting period and they could continue to work in these sectors longer, until they are in the country and receive material reception conditions, despite an enforceable removal decision. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Access to procedure icon 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 Flag Finland 2020 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services The Tulppaani project developed a quality control model for interpretation during asylum interviews, using peer-to-peer review, random checks and new guidelines for interpreters. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Let's talk about children! method was fully rolled out in reception centres. The Finnish Immigration Service and MIELU adapted the method to the context of asylum in an AMIF-funded project between 2017-2020. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Finland Flag Finland 2020 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure A horizontal action plan against trafficking in human beings was drafted and completed in the beginning of 2021. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Compliance with a return decision issued to a minor or an adult foreigner with limited active legal capacity will be organised by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult person who is staying with the person in Estonia. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens was amended to include the conditions and timeframes for detaining applicants in an emergency situation caused by mass arrivals. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Amendments to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the rejection decision includes a return decision and a prohibition on entry for 3 years. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications The amendment of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the PBGB must update the list of safe countries of origin at least once a year. EASO Asylum Report 2021