Publication date: 16 April 2026
This Inform maps national approaches to the safe country of origin (SCO) and safe third country (STC) concepts, in the context of the forthcoming Asylum Procedure Regulation applicable from June 2026. It compares legislation, policies and practices governing the designation and application of SCOs and STCs, including the use of national lists, ad hoc assessments and accelerated asylum procedures. The analysis was prepared on the basis of contributions from 26 EMN Member and Observer Countries.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: safe country of origin, safe third country, list, assessment, accelerated procedure, asylum procedure directive
Publication date: 10 April 2026
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member Countries plan to change their age assessment procedures in light of Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 on multidisciplinary age assessments. It explores which authorities or external providers are involved in the procedure, and how multidisciplinary teams carry out the assessment in practice. The query also covers how applicants are interviewed and how conclusions are drawn and communicated.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: applicant for international protection, minor, age assessment, multidisciplinary approach
Publication date: 18 March 2026
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries have age assessment procedures in place, how these procedures are conducted, and which actors are responsible. It also explores the challenges encountered and how they are addressed. Finally, it examines whether the respondent countries plan to introduce a new procedure or amend an existing one in the near future.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: minor, age assessment, medical examination, multidisciplinary approach
Publication date: 11 March 2026
This ad hoc query explores whether national legislation provides for a formal decision extending the transfer deadline that is distinct from the transfer decision, and whether such a decision may be appealed. It also maps existing legal provisions on absconding in connection with the extension of transfer deadlines and gathers information on national practices when an applicant absconds and subsequently reappears.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Dublin Regulation, Dublin transfer, time limit, absconding
Publication date: 03 March 2026
The Latest Asylum Trends 2025 provides an annual overview of asylum activity in EU+ countries, covering asylum applications (per capita), the main nationalities of applicants, the top receiving countries, recognition rates, pending cases and the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection following the war in Ukraine. It also reviews policy developments in the EU+ and provides a 2026 outlook, examining, inter alia, geopolitical uncertainty and latent displacement risks.
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Main theme: International Protection, Temporary protection
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Latest Asylum Trends, EUAA, asylum applications, recognition rate, pending cases, displaced person, Ukraine, New Pact on Migration and Asylum
Publication date: 27 January 2026
This EMN Inform provides an overview of the border procedures currently applied by EMN Member Countries under the Asylum Procedures Directive. It mainly examines the types of procedures, authorities involved, processing times, types of decisions taken, and safeguards for applicants with special needs. The Inform highlights differences in national practices and presents them as they exist prior to the implementation of the mandatory Asylum Border Procedure under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: asylum procedure, application for international protection, border, transit zone, security, detention, vulnerable persons
Publication date: 14 December 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether national procedures allow asylum applicants to respond to an intended negative first-instance decision before it is officially finalised, and whether there are administrative mechanisms to object to a first-instance decision before filing a judicial appeal.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for international protection, first-instance decision, preliminary decision, pre-notification
Publication date: 28 November 2025
This EMN Inform provides an overview of how EMN Member and Observer Countries ensure access to vocational education and training (VET) for beneficiaries of international protection and applicants for international protection. It examines existing procedures, the incentive mechanisms used to encourage enrolment, and the main challenges and good practices identified across countries.
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Main theme: Integration, International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: labour market integration, vocational education, vocational training, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection
Publication date: 24 October 2025
This ad hoc query seeks to gather information on how EU Member States implement the procedures for making, registering and lodging applications for international protection under the Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU). It addresses how the process is organised in law and practice, the accessibility of registration centres, and the assessment of applicants’ vulnerabilities. The query also covers the use of extended registration deadlines, difficulties in meeting registration timelines, and measures taken when applicants cannot be registered on time.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, application for international protection, access to the procedure, registration centre
Publication date: 27 September 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on national lists of safe countries of origin and safe third countries, including their adoption and use. It examined exceptions for specific regions or categories of applicants and the procedures applied to their claims. It also explored the application of the safe third country concept, including assessments, safeguards and practical challenges. Finally, it gathered information on sources used, case law, good practices and planned adaptations to the new Asylum Procedure Regulation.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: safe country of origin, safe third country, list, assessment, accelerated procedure, asylum procedure directive
Publication date: 18 September 2025
This ad hoc query examines the systems and processes used by EMN Member and Observer Countries for scheduling and confirming interviews for applicants for international protection. It investigates the extent of automation used in coordinating the schedules of all participants (applicants, interviewers, interpreters, and legal representatives) and identifies recent developments in booking procedures.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, personal interview
Publication date: 24 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries offer or intend to offer individual legal advice to applicants for international protection during the asylum procedure. It considers how the extent of need and allocation of resources are determined, whether certain sub-groups of applicants are distinguished, and what challenges and benefits arise from implementing such services.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: procedure for international protection, legal advice, counselling
Publication date: 20 May 2025
In its annual report, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) provides a comprehensive overview of asylum figures for 2024, along with key internal developments and initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and decision-making. The report also addresses upcoming procedural changes, international cooperation efforts, new competences related to statelessness and vulnerable applicants, staffing and organisational improvements, and clarifications on operational and budgetary resources.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: CGRS, annual report, asylum figures, asylum decisions
Publication date: 15 May 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how Member and Observer Countries currently implement asylum border procedures. It covers the main steps of the asylum border procedure, including procedural stages, responsible authorities, legal bases for decisions, measures for vulnerable applicants and security risks, as well as good practices and key challenges.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: asylum procedure, application for international protection, border, transit zone, security, detention, vulnerable persons
Publication date: 13 May 2025
This EMN Inform maps how EMN Member Countries organise their first instance appeals procedures and examine operational changes implemented between 2018 and 2024. It delivers a comprehensive comparative analysis, reflecting on procedural safeguards, key challenges, and good practices observed across the EU.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: right to an effective remedy, asylum procedure, procedure for international protection, first instance, appeal procedure, time limit, suspensive effect, procedural guarantee
Publication date: 28 April 2025
This ad hoc query compares the existing legislation in EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the granting of protection statuses to family members of beneficiaries of international protection, as well as recent changes in practices in light of the regime change in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, Syria, protection status, suspension, decision-making
Publication date: 11 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by the Finnish National Contact Point of the EMN, explores whether and how EMN Member and Observer Countries measure the efficiency of their international protection procedures. It looks in particular at indicators such as the number of interviews conducted per full-time equivalent (FTE), the average length of these interviews, and the number of decisions issued per FTE. It also considers the tools used for these assessments and the actors responsible for carrying them out.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, efficiency, interview, asylum decisions
Publication date: 10 April 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how Member and Observer Countries organise vocational education and training (VET) for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. It covers programme structures, admission conditions, support measures, incentives, obligations, and the recognition of prior skills, as well as good practices and key challenges in delivering VET.
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Main theme: Integration, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: labour market integration, vocational education, vocational training, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection
Publication date: 06 March 2025
This ad hoc query investigates how healthcare services for applicants for international protection are organised in EMN Member and Observer Countries. It examines which authorities are responsible for providing such services, who covers the costs, and what types of services adult applicants are entitled to. It also explores how applicants access medical treatment, whether reception centres have healthcare personnel on staff, and how healthcare services are managed during a mass influx of migrants.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: applicant for international protection, access to healthcare
Publication date: 27 February 2025
This ad hoc query examines the obligation imposed on Member States to make an audio recording of the personal interview of applicants for international protection, as outlined in the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It explores the means currently used by some EMN Member Countries to record, store, and transmit recordings of personal interviews, as well as how others intend to implement this obligation in the future.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: asylum procedure, procedure for international protection, personal interview, recording
Publication date: 24 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the validity period of the first and subsequent residence permits for refugee protection and subsidiary protection in the EMN Member Countries.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, residence permit, document validity
Publication date: 16 September 2024
In collaboration with the Red Cross EU Office and the Swedish Red Cross, this Inform provides an overview of EMN Member and Observer Countries’ guidance and training on early detection and identification of presumed victims of torture or other forms of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in international protection procedures. It outlines procedural safeguards and guidance for asylum authorities when requesting medico-legal documentation in international protection applications, and it also details practices for identifying victims among beneficiaries of temporary protection to provide medical care, in line with the Temporary Protection Directive.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups, International Protection, Temporary protection
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: victim, torture, ill-treatment, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of temporary protection, Training, medico-legal documentation, mental health, credibility assessment
Publication date: 19 August 2024
This ad hoc query deals with legislation and practices regarding the search of asylum seekers' mobile phones and other devices. It updates the 2017 ad hoc query on mobile devices and the 2023 GDISC query on reading mobile data.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: privacy, GDPR, asylum
Publication date: 04 July 2024
This ad hoc query maps the financial allocations for which beneficiaries of international protection are eligible once they reach retirement age, and the possibility of combining them with pension benefits from their countries of origin.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, pension, retirement
Publication date: 02 June 2024
This ad hoc query serves as an update and supplement to the information provided in the 2019 Study titled: ‘Beneficiaries of International Protection travelling to their country of origin: Challenges, Policies and Practices in the EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland’. It addresses the cessation of international protection for individuals who travel to or contact authorities in their country of origin.