European Asylum Support Office Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union 2018 JUNE 2019 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION EASO Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the EU 2018 Contents XX‐00‐00‐000‐EN‐C Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 8 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 9 Developments at EU level ........................................................................................................................ 9 International protection in the EU+ ....................................................................................................... 11 Important developments at the national level ...................................................................................... 16 Functioning of the CEAS ......................................................................................................................... 17 1. MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN 2018 AT EU LEVEL .............................................................. 21 1.1. Legislative developments at EU level .............................................................................................. 21 1.1.1. Reform of the Common European Asylum System ................................................................ 21 1.1.2. Continued transposition of recast asylum acquis .................................................................. 24 1.1.3. Infringement procedures by the European Commission ........................................................ 24 1.2 Jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the EU ............................................................................... 26 1.3. Policy implementation based on the European Agenda on Migration ........................................... 31 1.4. External dimension and third‐country support ............................................................................... 37 2. INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION IN THE EU+ .................................................................... 40 2.1. Applications for international protection in the EU+ ...................................................................... 40 2.1.1 Applications: EU+ overview ..................................................................................................... 40 2.1.2 Applications for international protection per citizenship of origin ......................................... 43 2.1.3 Applications for international protection per EU+ country ..................................................... 47 2.1.4 Main asylum flows combining citizenships and receiving countries ....................................... 49 2.2. Withdrawn applications .................................................................................................................. 51 2.2.1 Withdrawn applications: EU+ overview .................................................................................. 51 2.2.2 Withdrawn applications by citizenship of origin ..................................................................... 52 2.2.3 Withdrawn applications by EU+ country ................................................................................. 52 2.3. Asylum decisions – first instance decisions ..................................................................................... 53 2.3.1 Asylum decisions at first instance – EU+ overview .................................................................. 53 2.3.2 Asylum decisions at first instance per citizenship of origin ..................................................... 54 2.3.3 Asylum decisions at first instance per EU+ country ................................................................ 55 2.3.4 Recognition rate ...................................................................................................................... 57 2.3.5 Recognition rate by country of origin ...................................................................................... 57 2.3.6 Special procedures: admissibility, border and accelerated procedures .................................. 59 2.4. Asylum decisions – second and higher instance ............................................................................. 62 2.4.1 Decisions at second and higher instances: EU+ overview ....................................................... 62 2.4.2. Decisions at second and higher instances per citizenship of origin ....................................... 63 2.4.3 Decisions at second and higher instances per EU+ country .................................................... 64 2.4.4 Recognition rate at second and higher instances by country of origin ................................... 65 2.5. Pending cases awaiting a final decision ........................................................................................... 65 2.5.1 Pending cases: EU+ overview .................................................................................................. 65 2.5.2 Pending cases per citizenship of origin .................................................................................... 67 2 EASO Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the EU 2018 2.5.3 Pending cases per EU+ country ............................................................................................... 68 2.6. Dublin system .................................................................................................................................. 70 3. IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL .................................................... 84 3.1. Major legislative changes in EU+ countries ..................................................................................... 84 3.2. Major institutional changes in EU+ countries ................................................................................. 98 3.3 Key policy changes related to integrity, efficiency and quality ...................................................... 100 3.3.1. Integrity................................................................................................................................. 100 3.3.2 Efficiency ................................................................................................................................ 102 3.3.3. Quality ................................................................................................................................... 106 3.4. Practical cooperation and operational support ............................................................................ 108 4. THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CEAS – DEVELOPMENTS AND CASE LAW IN KEY AREAS .......... 110 4.1. Access to procedure ...................................................................................................................... 110 4.2. Access to information and legal assistance ................................................................................... 119 4.2.1. Access to information ........................................................................................................... 119 4.2.2. Legal assistance and representation .................................................................................... 126 4.3 Providing interpretation services ................................................................................................... 130 4.4. Special procedures: admissibility, border and accelerated procedures ....................................... 131 4.5. Procedures at first instance ........................................................................................................... 136 4.6. Reception of applicants for international protection .................................................................... 141 4.7. Detention ....................................................................................................................................... 150 4.8. Procedures at second instance ...................................................................................................... 162 4.9. Country of origin information ....................................................................................................... 164 4.10. Vulnerable applicants .................................................................................................................. 166 4.10.1. Unaccompanied minors ...................................................................................................... 167 4.10.2. Other vulnerable groups ..................................................................................................... 176 4.11. Content of protection .................................................................................................................. 183 4.12 Return ........................................................................................................................................... 193 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 198 List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................ 199 Statistical annex .................................................................................................................. 203 Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................