|
Belgium |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The government pledged to introduce a new legal status for stateless persons which would give them the right to legally reside in Belgium if they cannot return to their country of habitual residence. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
|
Netherlands |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
The time limit for announcing the exact date of the forced removal is shortened from 48 hours to 36 hours (Article A3/6). The announcement can be omitted if there is a risk that the prior announcement would endanger the safety or health of the person or the family members. If the departure cannot take place, a new option is sought, and if the removal can take place within 2 days from the original date, a new prior notice is not necessary. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
A new registration procedure was introduced for first-time applicants through Circular 5049/2022. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Sweden |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The Swedish Migration Agency proposed 8 countries to be considered safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Kosovo, Mongolia, Northern Macedonia, Serbia and USA. The new list is foreseen to enter into force on 1 May 2021. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Italy |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
Italy revised its list of safe countries of origin, de facto suspending Ukraine. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Malta |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The International Protection Act was amended to clarify the criteria for exclusion from subsidiary protection, the criteria for considering an application manifestly unfounded, the subsequent application procedure, the application procedure for children in need of care and the procedure for temporary humanitarian protection (a national form of protection). |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Italy |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The grounds for detention were extended: i) when there is a condition for which the rejection of refugee status (for reasons of national security or public order) and exclusion from subsidiary protection status is foreseen and ii) when a subsequent application is issued during the execution of a removal order. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Portugal |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The revised Nationality Regulation entered into force, which facilitates acquiring citizenship for children born in Portugal to applicants or beneficiaries of international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Lithuania |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
The decision on which procedure the applicant follows must be made within 2 working days and no sperate decision is issued on this, but the case officer communicates this during the interview. The decision on admissibility is issued within 3 working days from the registration of the application. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Spain |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Spanish Ministry of Justice approved a preliminary draft of a new law on age assessments. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Malta |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
Bangladesh and Pakistan were added to the list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Greece |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
A Ministerial Decision specified that interpretation services must be provided free of charge by the Asylum Services during meetings between an applicant and a lawyer, and these meetings should not exceed 2 hours in total. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Hungary |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Asylum Law, Article 31/A(1a) was amended: It was added that there needs to be a risk of absconding, in order to take a foreigner into detention, when he/she did not apply for asylum and the Dublin III Regulation might apply. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Belgium |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Flemish government adopted a new integration path for newcomers which includes four components (language learning, economic autonomy, social orientation and sponsorship by a Flemish 'buddy') and will conclude with an exam. |
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 |
|
Estonia |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
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 |
|
Norway |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
A legislative proposal for a new Integration Act was introduced, re-shaping the integration programme for refugees. |
NO LEG 01 2019 |
|
Germany |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A new paragraph was added in the Asylum Act (Article 44(2a)), underlining that federal states are obliged to provide reception conditions ensuring the protection of women and other vulnerable applicants. |
DE LEG 03 2019 |
|
Greece |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Several new changes were brought with the new law: specific profiles will be prioritised, subsequent applications should be examined within five days (or two days for a removal procedure), the vulnerability assessment is only intended to trigger the provision of reception needs and prioritise the application but does not exempt the applicant from specific procedures, and the reception and identification procedures were organised into five stages. |
EL LEG 05 2019 |
|
Lithuania |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
Non-cooperation with authorities during the asylum application became a ground for detention. |
LT LEG 01 2019 |
|
Bulgaria |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to information |
An amendment to the Law on Asylum and Refugees clarified the role of organisations which provide legal and social assistance. |
BG LEG 01 2019 |
|
Finland |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Access to procedure |
Authorities may take and retain the travel documents of an applicant throughout the asylum procedure. |
FI LEG 01 2019 |
|
France |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
A provision for a multi-year residence permit stating “beneficiary of stateless person status” or “family member of a beneficiary of stateless person status” was established and the rules were clarified for processing applications for this type of permit. |
FR LEG 14 2019 |