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 Development Source
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A new alternative to detention was introduced, limiting the right to free movement to the territory of the accommodation facility. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation The amendments guaranteed free legal aid throughout the asylum procedure. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Interpretation services Interpretation services Amendments clarified that an applicant has the right to free oral interpretation related to the asylum application. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants An amendment clarified that a return decision cannot be issued pending the examination of an application for international protection. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants New criteria were added for assessing whether there was a risk of absconding. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Latvia Flag Latvia 2020 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The State Border Guard's internal regulations were amended to determine the procedure for children accompanied by an adult applicant who is ordered to be detained. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Latvia Flag Latvia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Support measures for beneficiaries of international protection (refugees and persons with alternative status), reception and accommodation in Latvia continued in 2020 with funding from AMIF, providing integration courses, Latvian language courses, as well as cultural, sports and recreational events and events fostering intercultural communication and co-operation with the local community. Information Centres for Newcomers (ICI) continued to operate in five different location and help newcomers with the orientation of administration and daily life, following their establishment in 2016 with AMIF support. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Latvia Flag Latvia 2020 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued humanitarian visas for Belarusians in a shorter timeframe and applicants were required to contact the embassy only once instead of twice. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Latvia Flag Latvia 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Amendments to the Immigration Law were submitted for approval, shortening the waiting period for applicants to access the labour market from 6 to 3 months. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Head of the Civil Protection Department in Italy ordered in April 2020 that people who were rescued at sea or who arrived independently by sea needed to quarantine on specially-equipped ships before disembarkation. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Special procedures to process asylum applications Special procedures to process asylum applications Applications from return facilities (CPR, centro di permanenza per il rimpatrio) and safe countries of origin are assessed within the accelerated procedure. Applications from a safe country of origin will follow the 9-day procedure, while a new ground for the 5-day procedure was established for applicants convicted of serious crimes. The 18-day procedure was revoked. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The procedure for a decision on the suspensive effect of an appeal in the second instance has to be taken by the court in a collegial decision. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A decree law aimed to regularise different residence and employment situations, including the irregular employment of applicants in agriculture, husbandry, fishing, personal assistance services and domestic work. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Language courses, psychological assistance and integration activities were re-established for all applicants residing in reception centres. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection SIPROIMI was transformed into SAI (System for Reception and Integration). Asylum applicants can now access these reception centres. However, a distinction between services provided to different profiles is made: only beneficiaries of protection can benefit from labour orientation and professional training. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The income and family support measures provided in the Cura Italia Decree, including a EUR 600 allowance, babysitting allowance and COVID-19 special leave, were made accessible to applicants in employment. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention 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
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Applications submitted in detention, a hotspot or a repatriation centre are no longer prioritised. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The amendments strengthened the duty of authorities to provide information about a detained applicant's rights and entitlements. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The amendments further clairfied detention conditions. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Detained applicants can address petitions and complaints to the national, regional and local ombudspersons. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The maximum length of detention was shortened to 90 days from 180 days. This can be prolonged with an additional 30 days for citizens of a country that has signed repatriation agreement with Italy. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Interpretation services Interpretation services The National Commission for Asylum in Italy was considering adding new criteria into public tenders to ensure that interpreters have a suitable level of comprehension of the Italian language. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Labour market access was granted to persons under humanitarian protection for medical reasons or due to natural disasters. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Italy Flag Italy 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection Legislative Decree No 130/2020 created a special 2-year permit based on respect of the non-refoulement principle. EASO Asylum Report 2021