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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 Sort descending Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Norway Flag Norway 2022 Policy Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation The Ministry of Justice and Public Security clarified that when a third-country national who already holds a residence permit on other grounds in the country applies for international protection, free legal aid is not automatically granted but it is conditioned by a needs test. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Norway Flag Norway 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The national budget was revised to employ more experts working with children in reception facilities, following the increasing number of arrivals from Ukraine. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A special strategy was developed to provide additional places in detention centres in an emergency situation. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
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
Poland Flag Poland 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection Integration centres for foreigners were opened in two provinces in March 2022 as a part of the project “Building structures for the integration of foreigners in Poland - Stage II – piloting Foreigners Integration Centres”. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Portugal Flag Portugal 2022 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The government launched a 2-year project to improve prevention, protection and support to victims of human trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Slovakia established a new quality assurance mechanism for the asylum procedure, to be carried out every 6 months or on an ad hoc basis. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The asylum and reception contingency plan was revised to address the arrival of persons in need of temporary protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new contingency plan was adopted to ensure accommodation and care in the event of a sudden or gradual increase in the number of applicants for international protection. The plan also addresses the implementation of international protection procedures and provides for personnel and financial adjustments in the event of opening new accommodation facilities. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Spain Flag Spain 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The government decided to increase the migration budged for 2022 by 29% with the allocation of additional funds aiming to improve reception conditions of applicants for international and temporary protection and migrants. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Spain Flag Spain 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration announced that applicants for international protection who had not yet been given a final decision on their case would not be withdrawn from the national social security system. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Spain Flag Spain 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration signed a memorandum with the Spanish Olympic Committee to promote sports in the reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Swedish Migration Agency approved a new legal position (RS/010/2022) related to Dublin transfers by which it continues to suspend transfers too Hungary as long as the situation persists. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A new legal position (RS/089/2021) was published on the examination of protection needs for citizens from Afghanistan, in particular on the situation of women and girls. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency updated its legal position on Iraq on 1 July 2022, following closely the latest EUAA Country Guidance on Iraq. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Asylum Seeker (LMA)-cards were digitalised to include a QR code for the validity period, and a case-handling system was further developed for increased usability. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency published a new legal position on the examination of protection needs of Somali nationals. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Swedish Migration Agency published a new legal position on the assessment of applications for international protection lodged by Syrian nationals. The SMA considered that Syrians summoned for military service or who deserted ran a general risk of persecution. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The Swedish Migration Court of Appeal introduced an e-service to facilitate the submission of documents to the court by state administrative authorities. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new government bill was presented on the distribution of housing across the country to host displaced persons from Ukraine. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure As part of the Swedish Migration Agency policy to increase detention capacity, a new detention centre with 114 places was opened in Mölndal. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency published a legal comment on detainees who are or will be subject to another form of deprivation of liberty (RK/001/2022). EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Information provision on the asylum procedure Information provision on the asylum procedure The Swedish Migration Agency expanded its services in 11 new locations, where employees informed applicants about procedures and regulations, and supported them in navigating the agency’s website. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The government appointed an inquiry commission to assess making language knowledge and knowledge of the Swedish society requirements for acquiring permanent residence in Sweden. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Sweden Flag Sweden 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Swedish Migration Agency issued a legal position on the relevant time for determining the age of an applicant or a sponsor, in particular in cases of family reunification. EUAA Asylum Report 2023