BZ-AB-14-001-EN-C European Asylum Support Office Annual Report Situation of Asylum in the European Union 2013 July 2014 Doi 10.2847/28516 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION HOW TO OBTAIN EU PUBLICATIONS Free publications: • one copy: via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); • more than one copy or posters/maps: from the European Union’s representations (http://ec.europa.eu/represent_en.htm); from the delegations in non-EU countries (http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/index_en.htm); by contacting the Europe Direct service (http://europa.eu/europedirect/index_en.htm) or calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (freephone number from anywhere in the EU) (*). (*) The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you). Priced publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). Priced subscriptions • via one of the sales agents of the Publications Office of the European Union (http://publications.europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm). 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Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Theinformationgivenisisfree,asaremostcalls(thoughsomeoperators, phoneboxesorhotelsmaychargeyou). MoreinformationontheEuropeanUnionisavailableontheInternet(http://europa.eu). Cataloguingdatacanbefoundattheendofthispublication. Luxembourg:PublicationsOfficeoftheEuropeanUnion,2014 ISBN 978-92-95079-93-9 doi: 10.2847/90173 ©EuropeanInstituteforGenderEquality,2014 Reproductionisauthorisedprovidedthesourceisacknowledged. Printed in Italy Contents Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 7 International Protection in the EU ........................................................................................................ 7 Major Developments in 2013 ................................................................................................................ 8 Functioning of the CEAS ........................................................................................................................ 8 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 11 2. International Protection in the EU .............................................................................................................. 13 2.1. Applicants for international protection in the EU ...................................................................... 13 2.2. Pending cases ............................................................................................................................ 17 2.3. Withdrawn applications ............................................................................................................ 20 2.4. Asylum decisions — First instance decisions .............................................................................. 21 2.4.1. Recognition rate ............................................................................................................ 21 2.4.2. Recognition rate by country of origin ............................................................................ 24 2.5. Asylum decisions — Second and higher instance decisions ...................................................... 25 2.5.1. Recognition rate ............................................................................................................ 25 2.5.2. Recognition rate by country of origin for higher instances ........................................... 27 2.6. Dublin ......................................................................................................................................... 30 2.7. Overview of developments in 2013 in main countries of origin ................................................ 32 2.8. Key challenges and responses .................................................................................................... 37 2.8.1. Syria ............................................................................................................................... 37 2.8.2. Russian Federation ........................................................................................................ 41 2.8.3. Western Balkans ............................................................................................................ 44 2.8.4. Task Force Mediterranean ............................................................................................. 48 3. Major developments in 2013 ...................................................................................................................... 49 3.1. Important developments at EU level related to asylum ............................................................. 49 3.1.1. Legislative: completion of CEAS ..................................................................................... 49 3.1.2. Jurisprudence ................................................................................................................ 52 3.1.3. Practical cooperation: translating legislation into action .............................................. 53 3.1.4. The European Refugee Fund and the Asylum and Migration Fund ............................... 54 3.2. Important developments at the national level ............................................................................... 55 3.2.1. Pressures on national asylum systems .......................................................................... 55 3.2.2. Institutional changes ..................................................................................................... 58 3.2.3. Important national jurisprudence ................................................................................. 60 3.2.4. Major legislative changes in MS .................................................................................... 63 3.2.5. Key policy changes related to integrity, efficiency and quality ...................................... 66 3.2.6. Third-Country Support .................................................................................................. 71 3.2.7. Malta/Intra-EU Relocation ............................................................................................. 73 4. The Functioning of the CEAS ........................................................................................................................ 75 4.1. Access to procedure ................................................................................................................... 75 4.2. Access to information and legal assistance ................................................................................ 77 4.3. Providing interpretation services ............................................................................................... 79 4.4. Dublin procedure ....................................................................................................................... 80 4.5. Specific procedures: admissibility, border and accelerated procedures ..................................... 83 4.6. Reception of applicants for international protection ................................................................. 84 4.7. Detention ................................................................................................................................... 87 4.8. Procedures at first instance ........................................................................................................ 90 4.9. Procedures at second instance .................................................................................................. 92 4.10. The availability and use of country of origin information ........................................................... 95 4.11. Vulnerable applicants ................................................................................................................. 98 4.12. Return ......................................................................................................................................... 101 5. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 103 ANNEXES .......................................................................................................................................................... 105 A. List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................