PR 07/2015
19 May 2015
EASO publishes description of the Hungarian asylum system
In view of the high influx of asylum seekers to Hungary (which began in the last quarter of 2014), EASO conducted a mapping exercise of the Hungarian asylum system. Different expert teams, comprised of Member State experts and EASO staff, examined the institutional and legal framework as well as the operational procedures in place in Hungary in order to provide a descriptive overview of the practical functioning of asylum and reception. EASO will now work with the Hungarian authorities on a needs assessment of the Hungarian asylum system and stands ready to further support Hungary in the near future.
Upon request of the Hungarian Office of Immigration and Nationality (OIN), EASO conducted (from 16-20 March 2015) a mission to Hungary with the aim of mapping the Hungarian asylum system.The mission took place in the context of a very high influx of applicants for international protection in Hungary in the last months of 2014. Data provided by Hungary to EASO, in the framework of data collection under the Early warning and Preparedness System (EPS), indicated a surge in asylum applicants mainly from Kosovo (though higher numbers of Syrian and Afghan applicants were also noted). The vast majority of these persons irregularly crossed the land border with Serbia, applied for asylum and then implicitly withdrew their applications and travelled on to other EU Member States where they once again applied for international protection. Numbers registered in 2014 (more than 42,000 applicants) amounted to more than twice the previous highest numberof asylum applicants ever registered in Hungary[1] (since EU-level data collection on international migration statistics started in 2008). While numbers of Kosovar applicants have dropped off to normal levels since late February 2015, numbers of Syrian and Afghan applicants continue to rise.
The aim of the mapping mission, which was conducted by EASO and Member States experts (from Austria, Germany, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden), was to draft a description of the institutional and practical functioning of the Hungarian asylum and reception system, covering: access to procedure, procedures at first instance, reception, and detention on the basis of which a needs assessment could be conducted. Certain selected aspects of return of former applicants for international protection were also included.
EASO and Member State experts were divided into teams focusing on: asylum determination, registration and reception. The teams visited all regional directorates of OIN and offices of other national bodies with a major role in the system. Experts also met with representatives of UNHCR in Hungary, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and other NGOs). The teams did not look into individual cases of applicants for international protection. This mapping report thus does not constitute an assessment of the Hungarian national asylum and reception system by EASO but should be considered as a detailed description of its functioning.
Quick Links: https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Description-of-the-Hungarian-asylum-system-18-May-final.pdf
Any further information may be obtained from the European Asylum Support Office by contacting Mr Jean-Pierre Schembri on the following e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
