Table S1. Standard reception strategies. Strategy Drivers Constrains Country Lack of sufficient means for their Some applicants may have Most applicants are destitute and Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Preconditions subsistence financial resources upon arrival dependent on state support Kingdom Restrictive Support from friends and/or The Recast Directive introduces a new conditions Independence Luxembourg relatives requirement that withdrawal may “only for access Reduction or occur” in exceptional and duly justified (Austria, Belgium10, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, to reception Violation of internal rules withdraw Availability of unoccupied case, ensuring access to health care and a Poland, Portugal) facilities places dignified standard of living for all Absence from facilities Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain applicants Proportional quota (province Ensure an even spread financial Austria and Germany Dispersal system population/tax revenue) and social costs burden-sharing Monitored proportion Prevent ‘overburdening’ of Ireland concept, between (applicants/area total population) public services Reception capacity, the needs and profile State regions or Available space, resources, cultural Provide best integration of the applicant as well as the status of Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom provinces fit, social risk options application must be keep in mind encouraging Agreement between government Compensations Finland long-term and municipalities settlement The applicant decides where to Freedom to choose France (monitored) and Sweden (on his/her own) reside Applicants first received in initial/transit Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Initial/transit facilities and follow- Better adaptation process facilities can be obliged to stay there Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, up accommodation Stages of the (Germany) and Norway procedure if they claim to be destitute, Applicants are admitted to the they are moved to the initial Without a period of adaptation United Kingdom Allocation asylum system first transit accommodation Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Vulnerability Netherlands, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway Medical/psychological needs Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Norway Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland)—specifically if the applicant is a UAM (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Age/UAMs Laying down special reception Member States are required to assess Profile of the Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovak Republic, conditions according to special whether a vulnerable person is an applicant Sweden, Norway needs of applicants applicant with special needs Gender Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Spain, Sweden Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovak Family situation Republic, Spain, Sweden Family ties Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Spain Nationality/ethnicity Austria, Cyprus, Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Norway Language capabilities Belgium Centralization of resources Accommodation Specific quality requirements and Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Facilities Open reception collective centers with a certain freedom of centers control mechanisms Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Slovak Republic movement 1 Standard use of private houses or Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary Luxembourg flats (in addition to collective Private facilities (hotels inc.), Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway facilities) Houses, Flats, The accommodation is on The cost of accommodation is very high. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden, United apartments and Private Hotels in emergencies independent units There is a need for prior agreements Kingdom) hotels Cash benefits or financial aids for Austria, Poland, Slovenia private accommodation Initial/transit during admission procedures Attention to urgent needs Restriction of movement e.g., Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Finland, France, UAMs, singles with minors, … Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway Especial facilities Children with specific needs Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden Special needs are dealt with in for vulnerable Victims of trafficking in human Need specialized personnel Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, a specific way persons beings Luxembourg, Netherlands (including minors), United Kingdom, Norway Persons with medical or Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Latvia, psychological needs Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, Norway; Persons with higher security needs Czech Republic, Estonia; Luxembourg, Norway. Single State authority Belgium, Estonia, Luxembourg, Shared responsibility between more Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Financial than one governmental Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United responsibility department/agency Kingdom, Norway State and local authorities together Austria, Finland, Italy (grands from national fund), Portugal Regional/local authorities Germany (quota) Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Full responsibility of State Coordination and cooperation is needed Poland, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Sweden (except UAMs) Authorities Responsibility shared between State (agreements, contracts, conventions, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, France responsible and Local authorities networks, informal mechanism, Regional/local authorities guidelines, plans and internal protocols) Germany Executive Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden (to some extent), United Kingdom, Subcontracted service providers responsibility Norway NGOs and private sector companies Austria, France, Estonia, Luxembourg NGOs Belgium and Portugal Local authorities and private Cyprus companies Contracted service providers Ireland 2 Table S2. Strategies for increasing the capacity of reception. Strategy Drivers Constrains Country Identify responsible authorities and Outlining what type of Often cover increasing capacity who is to coordinate these Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, action will be undertaken through existing or new facilities Emergency plans Define the type and scope of activities, Action is required in advance Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, by whom and to what triggering the activation of other and of follow-up actions Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Norway effect flexibility mechanisms Estimate costs. Budgetary flexibility is key to May consist of the internal reallocation financing other flexibility Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, or internal application for additional Can be very time consuming. mechanisms, such as stimulating Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Increase (decrease) Budget funds Requires a quick and appropriate capacity in existing or new Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom and May derive from the type of contracts response reception facilities or recruiting Norway) established with service providers extra case workers -Immediate accessibility Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovak Reserve % emergency places -Similar quality Only small percentages are allowed Republic and Norway -more sustainable (consequence) -Delays; Space in facilities with another use Agreements, conditioning spaces Schools, training facilities; (time) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Availability Military barracks; -Prevent the development of other Slovak Republic and Slovenia Existing facilities Reserve hospitals activities (only empty buildings). -Lower quality “Buffer” capacity High cost; Coordination and market Belgium, Estonia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Hotels/apartments Quick availability regulation tools need to be Portugal, Sweden developed and implemented Private external service Immediate accessibility Adaptability to the demand United Kingdom -Similar quality Build new facilities High initial cost, time, -more sustainable (consequence) Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovak New facilities Similar level of quality as other Depending on the resources Republic, Sweden Extend facilities places in that facility available Hotels Sub-standard facilities. Only short Emergency facilities periods, often longer. when material reception conditions are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Special standards in Special facilities Immediate accessibility not available in a certain Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, emergencies Camp grounds, holiday parks geographical area or when housing Slovenia, Sweden capacities normally available are temporarily exhausted, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, New employment Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway Additional workers Reassign staff