|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Finnish Ministry of the Interior launched a project to bring together the expertise of various stakeholders in the asylum system to develop uniform, long-term objectives and more comprehensive immigration and asylum policies. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Psyyke project was implemented with AMIF funding between 1 March 2019 and 30 June 2021, offering training and guidance to reception staff on mental health support in reception facilities. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
New quality assurance modalities for interpretation services were put in place in 2021 after the launch of the project Tulppani in 2020. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Integration Partnership Programme was launched in November 2020 to establish a nationwide network of integration and social inclusion actors. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
Various projects were implemented on processing data and digitalising information systems relevant to return, while the relevant legal framework was adapted accordingly. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
The refugee quota was increased by about 500 refugees, with a total of 1,500 persons to be transferred in 2022, due to the deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The national Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings was adopted. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Finland |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Finnish Immigration Service initiated a new practice which allows applicant children younger than 12 years old to be heard more frequently, ensuring that the bests interests of the child are taken into account effectively and systematically in the asylum procedure. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
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 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Government legislative proposal 132/2022 was submitted to parliament in order to enable applicants for international protection to be registered in the Civil Registry at an earlier stage and to ease the prerequisites for registration. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The government submitted a legislative proposal to the parliament to introduce a border procedure that could be triggered by a government decision if an exceptionally large number of migrants arrive in a short period of time or if hybrid activities aiming to exploit migration were directed against Finland. However, the parliament did not manage to consider the proposal by the end of the electoral term (29 March 2023) and it was allowed to lapse. The next government will decide if the changes are proposed again. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The Ministry of the Interior proposed amendments to the Nationality Act to update the definitions of a stateless person, in line with international treaties, eliminating the distinction between voluntarily stateless and involuntarily stateless person. However, the parliament did not manage to consider the proposal by the end of the electoral term (29 March 2023) and it was allowed to lapse. The next government will decide if the changes are proposed again. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Minors who have received international protection became exempted from the requirement of having sufficient financial resources for family reunification. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
Several legislative amendments were introduced to prepare for the transfer of responsibility for organising health and social services, including integration services, from municipalities to wellbeing services counties. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The government put a legislative proposal to consultation on the comprehensive reform of integration. The new system would increase the responsibility of municipalities in the integration process. The programme would include an exam in the Finnish or Swedish language. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
Law No 1294/2022 was adopted to improve the identification and referral of victims of trafficking and their right to services and assistance, irrespective of the progress of criminal proceedings. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Immigration Service announced in February 2023 that gender alone would constitute a sufficient reason to grant international protection to Afghan women and girls. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Finland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Finnish Immigration Service announced in March 2023 that it had gathered sufficient, updated country information from Afghanistan on the security situation of different provinces and had been able to start making decisions for all Afghan applicants. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The State Secretariat for Migration presented the results of the first evaluation of the law that reformed the asylum procedure in 2019. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The State Secretariat for Migration assessed the functioning of the asylum system during the COVID-19 pandemic. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Federal Administrative Court published its report on the evaluation of the asylum appeals procedure after the reform of the asylum procedure entered into force in 2019. |
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 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The Federal Council adopted its opinion on a report by the Political Institutions Committee of the Council of States concerning a parliamentary initiative on granting the same family reunification regimes to beneficiaries of international protection and persons with temporary admission. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
A draft amendment to the Asylum Act would allow the State Secretariat for Migration to access and analyse data from applicants' mobile phones, in order to verify their identity, with full respect of the principle of necessity and proportionality, and in compliance with the right to respect for private and family life. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Switzerland |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
An amendment to the Asylum Act entered into force, which describes the modalities and limits of video surveillance in federal reception centres. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |