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
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Policy Access to information Access to information A new website with information for asylum applicants was launched in February 2023 (it is only accessible from within the country). EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Four AMIF-funded projects were initiated, including mental health services and information and services around birth. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Reception-related responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Institutional The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Dublin Unit was re-structured, and tasks and responsibilities were redistributed. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The testing of a systematic and standardised identification and assessment tool was launched for special reception needs, including for disabled applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Changes made to accessing material reception conditions established that applicants must first lodge an application at the General Department of immigration before they can request accommodation. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection A new law on intercultural living entered into force in January 2024. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Labour market tests were abolished to facilitate access to employment. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Legislative The Dublin procedure The Dublin procedure The Law on International and Temporary Protection was amended to include a list of circumstances when there is aa significant risk for absconding and when to detain an applicant. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Legislative amendments clarified the amount of food and hygiene products to be received and defined the same amount of basic assistance for all applicants, regardless of age. Material reception conditions may also be given in cash. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Amendments revising detention provisions came into force in Lithuania at the end of 2023, including a new alternative to detention which allows a person to leave the assigned accommodation only with the permission of the head of facility. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Lithuanian parliament adopted amendments which allow border guards to return migrants who cross into Lithuania irregularly during a state of emergency. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Policy Country of origin information Country of origin information Due to its geographical location and the instrumentalisation of migration, the authorities focused on producing COI on Belarus, as well as on countries in Central Asia. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure Lithuania maintained the state of emergency along the border with Belarus as it continued to face challenges with migrants attempting to enter the country. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Department used a questionnaire to screen citizens of Belarus and Russia on their attitudes on the war in Ukraine and information on former employers and service to identify possible threats to state security and cases in which exclusion clauses would be applicable. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Policy Interpretation services Interpretation services Remote interpretation was increasingly used to circumvent the continued lack of interpreters. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A legislative amendment established that the process to appeal the decision on accommodation must be done within 14 days before the district court. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation Following legislative amendments, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, or an institution authorised by it, will replace the Migration Department in the organisation of state-guaranteed legal aid for third-country nationals. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A legislative amendment stipulates that the decision for an applicant’s accommodation must be made by the Migration Department. Applicants must be accommodated without their freedom of movement restricted, if certain conditions are met. When assessing restrictions on the freedom of movement, the authorities must also assess the applicant’s age, health, family situation and other relevant circumstances. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2023 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Draft amendments were approved by the government to establish an agency on the basis of the Refugee Reception Centre which will be in charge of the reception of and support for applicants, an entity under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Latvia Flag Latvia 2023 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new reception centre was opened in Alūksne, with a capacity of 252 places for single people. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Latvia Flag Latvia 2023 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure A new law provides the Cabinet of Ministers with the authority to declare a situation of emergency when it considers that there is a disproportionately high number of cases of illegal or attempted crossings of the state border. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Latvia Flag Latvia 2023 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance A new local court was afforded the competence to receive asylum appeals. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Italy Flag Italy 2023 Policy Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The establishment of a first centre for accelerated returns at the border was announced for applicants arriving from safe countries of origin. EUAA Asylum Report 2024
Italy Flag Italy 2023 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Ministry of the Interior issued guidance on the identification, referral and support to applicants with special needs in an effort to harmonise territorial practices. EUAA Asylum Report 2024