EASO Asylum Report 2020 Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union EASO Asylum Report 2020 Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION Cover image: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe © European Asylum Support Office, 2020 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. For any use of reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the EASO copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder. ISBN 978-92-9485-210-6 DOI 10.2847/531878 Catalogue number BZ-AB-20-001-EN-N ISSN 2314-9701 Foreword With Europe experiencing yet again an increase in the number of applications for international protection in 2019 (for the first time since 2015), asylum remains a high priority in the EU policy agenda. As the trends change over time, we remain collectively working toward providing optimal solutions to persons in need of protection, while maintaining the integrity of national asylum systems. The 2020 edition of the EASO Asylum Report offers a concise and comprehensive overview of key developments in international protection and the functioning of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). To produce its annual flagship report, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) collects and analyses information from a wide range of reliable sources to provide an in‐depth look at policy changes and improvements over the course of the year, while underlining challenges which remain to be addressed. As EASO celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2020, we are reminded of the agency’s growing importance in providing operational and technical assistance in asylum matters to EU+ countries. The information produced by EASO is vital to enable policy-makers to make informed decisions, to enable countries to cope with an ever-changing landscape of migratory patterns and to empower national administrations in processing, case by case, a continuous stream of applications. We look forward to the long-awaited adoption of a new regulation for the European Union Asylum Agency, which will transform EASO into a fully-fledged EU agency, strengthen its role and expand its mandate. As the centre of expertise on asylum, EASO will continue to provide service-oriented, impartial and transparent support toward the effective implementation of CEAS. I am grateful for the on-going collaboration with all our partners towards common, transparent and sustainable asylum systems across Europe. Efficient systems can respond rapidly to the changing patterns in migration flows and ensure a clear, fair and dignified process to each applicant for international protection. We are already seeing global and national situations emerging in 2020 which may lead to more people seeking refuge. Now, more than ever, we must continue to work towards a truly common European asylum system by attaining convergence in addressing the needs for international protection and showing solidarity with Member States which are under the greatest pressure. Nina Gregori Executive Director European Asylum Support Office 4 EASO Asylum Report 2020 Acknowledgements We would like to thank a number of partner organisations which actively contributed to this year’s edition of the EASO Asylum Report 2020 through contributions, consultations or feedback during the drafting process. Primary facts and information were obtained from EU+ countries with the coordination of the European Migration Network (EMN). We are also grateful to the European Commission for its continued support and feedback during the drafting process. Colleagues from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also provided input produced by its experts. In particular, we express our gratitude to asylum and reception authorities in EU+ countries for the continuous cooperation in the area of information exchange throughout the year. The contributions of national asylum experts involved in EASO’s thematic networks are invaluable in helping EASO maintain an accurate and up-to-date overview of asylum-related developments in Europe and beyond. Through various channels, civil society organisations, academia and research institutions provide EASO with research findings and input from the ground. To present the full picture of asylum in 2019 and take account of all perspectives, contributions from these institutions and organisations were included in this report. To this end, EASO would like to acknowledge the following organisations, which contributed to EASO Asylum Report 2020 through direct submissions or consultations: Are you Syrious (Croatia) Associazione My Lawyer (Italy) AsyLex (Switzerland) Asylum Protection Center (Serbia) Asylum Research Centre Foundation (United Kingdom) Caritas Austria Caritas Wien Rechtsberatung (Austria) Cyprus Council for Refugees Danish Refugee Council Greece Dutch Advisory Committee on Migration Affairs (the Netherlands) European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) (Belgium) Forum réfugiés-Cosi (France) Fundación Cepaim (Spain) Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland) HumanRights360 (Greece) Hungarian Helsinki Commitee (Hungary) Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (Austria) Migrant Integration Center Brasov (Romania) Missing Children Europe (Belgium) Network for Children's Rights (Greece) Safe Passage International (United Kingdom) Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Claims of Asylum (SOGICA) Project, University of Sussex (United Kingdom) Spanish Commission for Refugees - CEAR (Spain) Stichting Nidos (the Netherlands) Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo (VIS) (Italy) European Network on Statelessness (Consultations*) 5 Annual Report on the Situation of Asylum in the European Union Acronyms and abbreviations ACSG Asylum Capacity Support Group AVRR Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme AWAS Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers AZC Asylum seekers’ centre in the Netherlands (asielzoekerscentrum) BBU Federal Agency for Care and Assistance Services in Austria (Bundesagentur für Betreuungs- und Unterstützungsleistungen) BVMN Border Violence Monitoring Network CALL Council for Alien Law Litigation in Belgium CAT UN Committee against Torture CEAS Common European Asylum System CEDAW United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CEF Episcopal Conference of France CEPOL EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training CGRS Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons in Belgium CIR Republican Integration Contract in France CJEU Court of Justice of the European Union COA Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers in the Netherlands (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers) COI Country of origin information CPH Temporary accommodation centres in France CPT European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment DPAR Measures assisted returns in France (dispositifs de préparation de l’aide au retour) DT&V Repatriation and Departure Service in the Netherlands EASO European Asylum Support Office ECHR European Convention on Human Rights ECtHR European Court of Human Rights ECRE European Council on Refugees and Exiles EDAL European Database of Asylum Law EEAS European External Action Service EIGE European Institute for Gender Equality EMCDDA European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction EMN European Migration Network ENS European Network on Statelessness EPS EASO’s Early Warning and Preparedness System ( EQPR European Qualifications Passport for Refugees ETCC Employer Tailored Chain Cooperation EU+ European Union Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland eu-LISA European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice EUAA EU Asylum Agency Eurojust EU Judicial Cooperation Agency Europol European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation Fedasil Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers in Belgium FEP Protestant Federation of Mutual Aid FGM Female genital mutilation FRA European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights 6 EASO Asylum Report 2020 Frontex European Border and Coast Guard Agency GDP Gross domestic product ( GRETA Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings GRSI Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative ICC Inter-Cultural Cities programme ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICMC International Catholic Migration Commission ICMPD International Centre for Migration Policy Development IDMC Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre IDP Internally displaced person IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGI-DAI General Inspectorate for Immigration–Asylum and Integration Directorate in Romania IOM International Organization for Migration IPSN Identification of Persons with Special Needs IRPP Irish Refugee Protection Programme JHA European Union Justice and Home Affairs JRS Jesuit Refugee Service KIS Knowledge Platform on Integration in Netherlands (Kennisplatform Integratie & Samenleving) LBGTI Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender and intersex MENA Middle East and North African MIRPS Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection and Solutions in Central America and Mexico MPI Migration Policy Institute OAU Organization of African Unity OFII Office Français de l’Immigration et Intégration in France ONA Office national de l’accueil in Luxembourg PFI Push Factor Index POL Process reception centres in the Netherlands (processopvanglocatie) REVIS Law on social inclusion income in Luxembourg SCIFA Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum