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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 Sort descending Development Source
Latvia Flag Latvia 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The government adopted in February 2021 a general policy planning document entitled “Guidelines for the Development of a Cohesive and Civically Active Society for 2021-2027”, followed by an action plan, outlining activities also for the integration of foreigners. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The IND published new work instructions on further investigation in family reunification procedures, including DNA testing in the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Romania Flag Romania 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The new National Strategy on Immigration for 2021-2024 was launched in Romania, including special objectives on integration. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Further clarifications were provided for the assessment of family reunification for beneficiaries of international protection. For example, the fact that the family members were not named during the asylum procedure is not in itself a ground to reject family reunification, but it can be taken into account when assessing the actual family link. For foster children, the biological parents' identity and the foster parent's family link to the biological parents always need to be clarified. When the biological parents are still present, the link between a foster child and foster parents can only be recognised for family reunification under very exceptional circumstances. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Germany Flag Germany 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The draft of the Second Law for the Introduction of a Right of Opportunity to Stay proposed to make language and integration courses available for all applicants, regardless of their prospects of staying in the country EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The possibility to impose a travel ban is planned to be extended to persons with temporary admission. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Germany Flag Germany 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The German Act on the Deployment of Social Services Providers was adopted, which provides aid, for example, for language course providers to help mitigate the effect of the pandemic and prevent bankruptcy. EASO Asylum Report 2021
France Flag France 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection A ministerial instruction defined the priorities of the integration policy for 2022, including integration through employment. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Croatia Flag Croatia 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Amendments to the Aliens Act extended the scope of persons who can receive a temporary resedence permit on humanitarian grounds. These persons have the right to work without an additional work permit or authorisation, to attend vocational training and enrol in education. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Changes were made to the issuance of humanitarian visas and humanitarian stays for citizens of Belarus. The requirements were eased for those with a visa which was about to expire or those who have fled the regime to Ukraine and then entered Poland through a special procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
United Kingdom United Kingdom 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The government published its Integrated Communities Action Plan, which confirms the actions the government will take to deliver stronger, integrated communities. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Belgium Flag Belgium 2019 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A law proposal was put forth to reduce the period of exemption for beneficiaries of international protection from the requirement to have sufficient economic resources from one year to three months. BE LEG 01 2019
Belgium Flag Belgium 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Changes to the integration path entered into force in the Flemish region of Belgium. The new programme includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and a 40-hour tandem programme with a Flemish ‘buddy’) and concludes with an exam. The compulsory programme is subject to a EUR 360 fee. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Denmark Flag Denmark 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A special legislative piece provides temporary residence permits to persons who have assisted the Danish authorities and have been evacuated from Afghanistan. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Norway Flag Norway 2021 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection An amendment to the Norwegian Social Services Act came into force which requires third-country nationals older than 30 years with insufficient Norwegian knowledge to participate in language training as a condition to receive financial support. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Norway Flag Norway 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Directorate for Integration and Diversity, in cooperation with municipalities, carried out for the first time a survey on the experiences of participants in the introduction programme. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Policy Content of protection 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
Spain Flag Spain 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Universities issued a new decree on the recognition procedure for foreign degrees and shortened the procedure to 6 months EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Austria Flag Austria 2022 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection New rules on orientation courses entered into force, including the extension of the obligatory orientation course from 1 to 3 days and the inclusion of modules on gender equality, antisemitism and the importance of voluntary work. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
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
Poland Flag Poland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A draft amendment was submitted to the Social Assistance Act, which aims to grant the right to individual integration programmes for beneficiaries of international protection married to Polish citizens (amendment accepted on 15 April 2021). EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Legislative Decree No 34/2020 promoted regularisation on the basis of transforming undeclared work to regular employment in certain labour sectors, and this process could be initiated by asylum applicants as well. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The new National Plan for the Integration of Beneficiaries of International Protection 2022-2024 was adopted. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Bulgaria Flag Bulgaria 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The amendments to the Law on Asylum and Refugees in Bulgaria added two new circumstances when international protection status ceases: when a beneficiary passes away or when a person refuses expressly to be recognised as a beneficiary of international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Austria Flag Austria 2019 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Austria continued to focus on the labour market integration of beneficiaries of international protection, organised targeted employment fairs and mentoring programmes specifically tailored to migrant women. EASO Asylum Report 2020