|
Malta |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Office of the Refugee Commissioner started implementing changes to reporting on case allocation and backlog. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Malta |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The AWAS established the Therapeutic Services Unit (TSU) for migrants suffering from psychological disorders due to trauma, with a special team dedicated to children and unaccompanied minors. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Luxembourg |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The government increased the threshold of subsidies for municipalities from 80 % to 100 % of the rental prices announced by the Housing Observatory to encourage rentals for beneficiaries of international protection. Beneficiaries may also continue to live in reception facilities for a small fee. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
A three-year project to update the information portal of the Asylum Division of the Migration Department was completed. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Internal guidelines on the conduct of interviews and information-gathering in the asylum procedure were implemented. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Training on working with unaccompanied minors was offered to reception centre staff. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
A newly-built dormitory opened for a maximum of 15 vulnerable persons at the Foreigners’ Registration Centre of the State Border Guard Service. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The booklet A Guide for Asylum Seekers in Latvia was translated into two additional languages, Azerbaijani and Georgian. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Two video tutorials were developed with information for applicants on everyday issues at the Asylum Accommodation Centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Latvia |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
80 State Border Guard officers participated in training on unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable persons applying or not applying for asylum (upgraded training programme), “Profiling, interviewing and identification”. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Ireland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Content of protection |
The government published the mid-term review of the Migrant Integration Strategy 2017-2020. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Ireland |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The “National Standards for Accommodation Offered to People in the Protection Process” and a report on direct provision from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Equality were published. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
A draft law aims to amend the Law on Foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria, including, for example, shorter time limits for appealing decisions on pre-removal detention. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the Constitution, allowing for an exception from the general 75-day time limit for an appeal against a negative decision of the Asylum Service before the Administrative Court. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Legal assistance and representation |
Following amendments, the Law on Asylum and Refugees clearly states that state authorities have an obligation to ensure asylym applicants' access to legal aid. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
An amendment to the Law on Foreigners was adopted which introduced new grounds for refusing to grant stateless status. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The Law on Foreigners was amended to provide clarification on the return procedure. For example, the country to which a return is to be executed must be indicated in the return decision. Automatic suspensive effect was introduced for an appeal which is filed against an expulsion order issued on the grounds of serious threat to public order. In addition, if it is established by a judicial act that a foreigner subject to a removal order cannot be returned to a country due to a risk to the person's life and liberty or persecution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, an order must be issued which explicitly states the prohibition of return and the state to which the foreigner should not be returned. This order is not subject to appeal. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Bulgaria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Law on Asylum and Refugees was amended to address shortcomings in the identification, legal representation and age assessment procedure for unaccompanied children. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
When a subsequent application is deemed to be inadmissible, the appeal needs to be lodged within 15 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Austria |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The BFA Procedures Law and the Asylum Law were temporarily amended until 31 December 2020, so that unaccompanied minors can be transferred directly to a regional directorate or field office to launch an asylum application, without passing through a first reception centre. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The asylum authority may reject an application and issue at the same time a return, removal or expulsion order in a single administrative act. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Croatia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
An amendment specified that an application could be examined under the accelerated procedure, and its examination is to be prioritised within 30 days from its lodging. This time limit can be extended up to 2 months. The time limit for lodging an appeal against a negative decision is 15 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A Ministerial Decision established a list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |