|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The CGRS published a new policy in January 2024 on the security situation in Somalia to guide the assessment of applications for international protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
In March 2023, the CGRS adjusted its procedure to enable applicants to submit documents by email. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Around 2,000 additional places were established in the reception system. The search for new centres continued throughout the year. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Fedasil increased the number of reception places for unaccompanied children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Fedasil and the Auxiliary Fund for Health and Invalidity Insurance launched a new project to simplify and digitalise the billing system for applicants’ medical support. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Access to information |
The Fedasil Info Point was reopened in 2023 next to the Bordet reception centre with expanded tasks to support applicants residing outside of the reception network, migrants in transit and people without a legal residence. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Access to information |
A campaign was set up to combat irregular migration from Guinea in response to their increased number of applications. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Interpretation services |
The code of ethics for interpreters was updated. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
A new reception facility to host up to 115 resettled refugees was opened in Alveringem. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Resettlement and humanitarian admissions |
Alongside the Community Sponsorship Programme, which has been running in Belgium since 2020, Fedasil launched an initiative in 2023 to find new partners to provide reception support, including housing, to resettled refugees. Various partnerships were signed in 2023, and the process of finding new partners continued in 2024. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Legislative |
|
Interpretation services |
Amendments to laws were prepared on the recruitment and status of interpreters. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Institutional |
|
The Dublin procedure |
The Immigration Office’s Dublin Unit was restructured in 2023, creating additional sub-divisions and further dividing tasks. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Legislative |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The Council of Ministers approved the creation of a separate residence right for parents when their children qualify for international protection but they themselves do not. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Legislative |
|
Content of protection |
The Flemish region of Belgium introduced an obligatory, standardised Dutch language test for newcomers, including beneficiaries of international protection, as part of civic integration courses. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Belgium |
2023 |
Legislative |
|
Statelessness in the context of asylum |
The Council of Ministers approved a draft legislation which would become law in early 2024, setting up a specific procedure and a specific legal right to stay for stateless people, provided they have involuntarily lost their nationality, cannot obtain or retrieve one, and prove they cannot receive a residence permit in any another country. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Federal provinces received additional reimbursements for their costs for beneficiaries of material reception conditions from October 2022 to March 2023 to cover for inflation and higher living costs. Operators of collective reception facilities and hosts of private accommodation received increased reimbursements per person. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
Nationals of Bangladesh, India and Morocco were channelled through the accelerated procedure, based on an individual assessment. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The BBU developed and published a child protection concept. BBU staff received compulsory online training on child protection. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
Methodology was revised to introduce new specifications for reporting on country of origin information. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
The Country of Origin Information–Content Management System (COI-CMS) now offers the possibility to mechanically translate COI reports into 24 different languages through DeepL. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
The authorities launched an information campaign to raise awareness and fight violence against women. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Austria |
2023 |
Policy |
|
Country of origin information |
To simplify the review process to decide if a country is still considered to be safe from a COI perspective and to include it in the new Content Management System (COI-CMS), the COI unit (Staatendokumentation) now notes in each country fact sheet (under ""Country information notes"") if the country is on the list of safe countries of origin and if this still applies in light of recent COI updates or whether changes have occurred. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2024 |
|
Poland |
2022 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Department for Refugee Proceedings at the Office for Foreigners was reorganised with more specialised teams to work with specific categories of applicants, such as detained applicants or applicants from specific countries of origin. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Poland |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |
2022 |
Policy |
|
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 |