Asylum | EMN

A country may be listed as a safe third country even if that third country has suspended the admission or readmission of those applicants to its territory, according to the CJEU

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In a recent judgement in Case C‑134/23, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) clarified that Article 38 of Directive 2013/32/EU does not preclude legislation of a Member State designating a third country as generally safe for certain categories of applicants for international protection, even if that third country has suspended, in general terms and without any prospect of a contrary development, the admission or readmission of those applicants to its territory.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: applicant for international protection, safe third country, Turkey, readmission

Discriminatory measures adopted in respect of women by the Taliban regime constitute acts of persecution, according to the CJEU

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In a recent judgement, the Court of Justice of the European Union concluded that some of the discriminatory measures against women in Afghanistan, namely forced marriage and the lack of protection against gender-based violence and domestic violence, must be classified alone as "acts of persecution" and that other measures, taken as a whole, given their cumulative effect and the fact that they are applied deliberately and systematically, constitute such acts.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: Afghan woman, act of persecution, gender, nationality

The notification of decisions granting or refusing subsidiary protection status is temporarily suspended for applicants from Lebanon

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The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGVS) announced on 2 October 2024 that the notification of decisions granting or refusing subsidiary protection status to applicants from Lebanon is suspended until the CGRS has sufficient objective information to assess the security situation in Lebanon.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: applicant for international protection, Lebanon, refugee status, subsidiary protection status

EMN Luxembourg Conference: Mental health and well-being of front-line (reception) workers

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In their jobs, front-line workers sometimes have to deal with the trauma of applicants for international protection and are confronted with conflicts, tensions and sometimes personal safety risks. Hence, they are exposed to a high risk of personal stress levels and burnout, moral injury, depression, trauma, and other mental health challenges. This conference aims to bring together stakeholders at national and EU level to share experiences, challenges and practical solutions in this field.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: staff wellbeing, frontline worker, stress, burnout

In the first eight months of 2024, more than 3.000 Palestinians have applied for asylum in Belgium

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On 1 October 2024, Nicole de Moor stated that proportionally speaking, more Palestinian applicants for international protection come to Belgium than to other European Member States. She also confirmed that the protection rate for Palestinian applicants had increased in recent years.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: Palestinian, applicant for international protection, New Pact on Migration and Asylum

The Fedasil Info Point reopened its doors just a year ago

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After nearly two years of closure, Fedasil’s Info Point reopened on 27 September 2023, at its new location in rue Héger-Bordet, 3. The Info Point offers information and counseling for applicants for international protection living outside the reception network, but also migrants in transit and persons without a residence permit.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: information provision, applicant for international protection, transit migrant, irregularly staying third-country national

Council of Europe calls on the Belgian authorities to increase the capacity of their reception network to resolve the current crisis

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In a statement from 19 September 2024, the Council of Europe notes that Belgium has taken steps to address the wider reception crisis (such as creating 3.500 additional reception places and accelerating the examination of certain asylum applications to free up existing reception places), but these measures are insufficient.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception crisis, accommodation, material assistance, judicial decision

By June 2024, EU countries had received more than half a million applications for international protection, according to the EUAA

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The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) released the latest asylum trends for the first half of 2024. By June 2024, EU countries had received 513.000 applications for international protection. While the figure remained stable compared to the first six months of 2023, some changes occurred at the national level.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: application for international protection, asylum trend, asylum recognition rate

New Red Cross centre for asylum applicants

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The Belgian Red Cross announced the opening of a new reception centre for applicants for international protection in Brussels. It will be able to accommodate up to 360 people.

Main theme: Reception

An athlete from the Refugee Olympic Team wins a historic bronze medal in Paris

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Cindy Ngamba, a 25-year-old Cameroonian refugee living in the United Kingdom, won the bronze medal in the boxing discipline at the Paris Olympics. She is the first athlete in any sport to secure a medal while representing the refugee team.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: Olympic Games, boxing, refugee olympic team

2024 Rule of Law Report recommends that Belgium ensures compliance with final rulings of national courts and the European Court of Human Rights

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In the 2024 Rule of Law Report, especially in the country chapter on the rule of law situation in Belgium, the European Commission recommends that Belgium takes measures to ensure compliance by public authorities with final rulings of national courts and the European Court of Human Rights, referring in particular to judgments finding the State responsible for not ensuring adequate reception of asylum seekers.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: rule of law, reception, applicant for international protection

100 NGO's urge the EU and its Member States to safeguard the right to territorial asylum in Europe

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On 9 July, almost 100 NGOs, which include ECRE and several ECRE member organisations, published a joint statement urging all EU Member States to guarantee the right to seek and enjoy asylum and uphold their commitments to the international refugee protection system.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: application for international protection, outsourcing, externalisation

Applicants for international protection with income have to contribute to the reception provided by Fedasil

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From 1 July 2024, adult asylum seekers who stay in a reception centre and who have a working income will have to contribute to this reception. Those who do not wish to contribute may consider staying outside the reception centre. They are free to leave the centre and find their own accommodation.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception centre, financial contribution, material assistance

The Immigration Office launched the website www.asylumregistration.be

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The Immigration Office disclosed a new website aimed at informing applicants for international protection about the purpose and course of the registration. Each step of the process is explained in 16 languages via texts, audio, and videos. The website was co-funded by the European Union.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: registration, application for international protection

Applicants for international protection have 30 days to leave a reception centre after a final negative decision

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In order to structurally shorten the duration of reception in Belgium, an amendment was made to the Reception Act. Anyone who receives a final negative asylum decision must leave the reception place within a period of 30 days.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception centre, material assistance

The global community marks World Refugee Day 2024 focusing on solidarity with refugees

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World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on 20 June and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.

Main theme: Asylum

Keywords: World Refugee Day

Justice and Home Affairs Ministers reach a political agreement on the proposal to extend the temporary protection for Ukrainians

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During the last Justice and Home Affairs Council under the Belgian Presidency, Ministers agreed to extend the temporary protection for Ukrainians for one year. This will run until March 2026.

Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration

Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, visa policy, Schengen, border control, interoperability

Stateless persons of Palestinian origin registered with UNRWA should be granted refugee status if UNRWA's protection or assistance is considered to have ceased, according to the Court of Justice of the EU

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On 13 June 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union released its judgment in the case C-563/22 involving a stateless Palestinian mother and her child, registered with UNRWA, who left the Gaza strip to seek protection in Bulgaria. In this case, the Court provided guidance on the interpretation of Article 12(1)(a) of Directive 2011/95/EU and of Article 40(1) of Directive 2013/32/EU.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: refugee status, exclusion, Palestinian, UNRWA, stateless persons, subsequent application

EU Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians for another year

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On 11 June 2024, the European Commission proposed to extend the temporary protection for people fleeing Russia's aggression against Ukraine for another year, from 5 March 2025 to 4 March 2026. The Council still needs to formally adopt the proposal.

Main theme: Temporary protection

Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine

Refugee status may be granted to women who identify with the value of equality between women and men, according to the Court of Justice of the EU

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In case C-646/21, the Court of Justice of the European Union clarified that women, including minors, who share as a common characteristic the fact that they genuinely come to identify with the fundamental value of equality between women and men during their stay in a Member State may be regarded as belonging to ‘a particular social group’, constituting a ‘reason for persecution’ capable of leading to the recognition of refugee status.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: refugee status, reasons for persecution, membership of a particular social group, best interests of the child

Online Presentation of the EUAA's Asylum Report 2024

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On 17 June 2024, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) will publish its Asylum Report 2024 during an online event. This edition highlights measures taken by EU+ countries to manage over 1.1 million asylum applicants in addition to over 4.4 million displaced persons registered for temporary protection.

Main theme: Asylum

Keywords: EUAA, asylum applications, asylum decisions

Seven humanitarian and civil society organisations denounce the normalisation of the reception crisis in Belgium

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Doctors Without Borders, Doctors of the World, CIRÉ, Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, BelRefugees, Caritas International, and the Humanitarian Hub underline the permanent lack of reception, protection and access to medical services for applicants for international protection without a reception place. They want to challenge policy-makers and raise public awareness about people left left on the street.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: reception crisis, reception capacity

EMN Germany Workhop on Ukrainians in the EU: Accessing rights under the Temporary Protection Directive and the way forward

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The workshop will shed light on the challenges and best practices of the application of the Temporary Protection Directive in Germany, the Netherlands, and Lithuania. The participants will also discuss future scenarios to ensure the continued protection of Ukrainians.

Main theme: Temporary protection

Keywords: Temporary Protection Directive, implementation, Ukraine

The updated list of safe countries of origin is published in Belgium’s Official Journal

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The list of safe countries of origin, which is revised once a year, was updated on 12 May 2024 and is now published in Belgium’s Official Journal. At present, the following countries are considered as safe countries of origin: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, India and Moldova.

Main theme: International Protection

Keywords: list of safe countries of origin

The Federal Institute for Human Rights highlights the weakening of the rule of law in Belgium

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In its 2023 annual report, the Federal Institute for Human Rights draws attention, among other things, to the failure of the authorities to enforce the rulings of the Belgian and European courts and tribunals, in particular in the context of the reception crisis. The lack of resources for the judiciary, threats to human rights defenders and weaknesses in the right to information are also underlined.

Main theme: Reception

Keywords: human rights, reception crisis, right to information