Overview on several European countries

Here you will find some short overviews on the particular situation in several European countries:

Austria > Overview

Chances of getting asylum in Austria depend a lot on your migration history and the preparation of your asylum application. Austria is executing Dublin II and other deportations. Police controls are taking place on trains, in public areas (streets, plazas) as well as in traffic hotspots like train stations. Even though there are strict controls, some people are able to cross through Austria to another country.

Bulgaria > Overview

The Bulgarian government is actively searching for Bulgaria to join the Schengen area. Consequently, even more restrictions will be imposed on the asylum seekers to organize a better life freely and humanely.
First, this means building new detention and “reception” centers as well as intensifying the border control coordination.

Denmark > Overview

Getting residence permit in Denmark is not easy. It is possible to obtain residence permit through work and study, but that require high skills and can be very costly. There is also the possibility of family reunification and residency on the basis of humanitarian reasons (if you are very ill). Apart from this applying for asylum is the only way of getting residence permit in Denmark for people outside the European Union. This overview introduces the current political situation relevant for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants.

France > Overview

As in most European countries, the French government wants to limit legal immigration and access to the right of residence for foreigners. His policy is more restrictive, and the administration tends to go beyond legal restrictions and to put additional barriers in access to rights.

Germany > Overview

Usually refugees or non-EU migrants are able to obtain temporary or permanent residence in Germany by applying for asylum or marriage. It’s more or less impossible – except for a few highly qualified experts and specialists – to get papers concluding a labour contract.

Greece > Overview

Greece is one of the major countries where people are entering the European Union through the Turkish-Greek borders (at land and sea). The EU has put a lot of pressure on the Greek government to close these external borders and invested into its closure by sending Frontex – officers of a specialized EU-border agency – and by funding “border security”. Despite increasing difficulties to cross the border, until today Greece remains one of the main transit countries for migrants trying to enter the EU.

Hungary > Overview

For many refugees and migrants Hungary is a transit country to Central and Northern Europe. Crossing the border (in the east via Ukraine, in the south from Greece via Serbia) a serious risk of illegal push-back (“refoulement”) is given, even if a person applies for asylum. A high percentage tries to continue the journey after having been registered. Many are later deported back to Hungary under the Dublin Regulation. In fact, the recognition rates for single groups (in particular Somalis) tend to be high in comparison to other European countries. This is, however, contrasted by the harsh social conditions.

Italy > Overview

Since 2001, immigration in Italy is regulated by the Bossi-Fini Law, which determines a very tight migration management. It is not possible to enter legally in Italy, except with a regular labour contract which is supposed to be stipulated between the worker and the master when the former is still in his/her country of origin. For undocumented migrants, there is not possibility of applying for regularization.

Latvia > Overview

Latvia is a transit country, through which migrants mostly are going to Scandinavia. Majority of the asylum seekers come from Russia, Afghanistan and Georgia. Latvia’s recognition rate is not high (44,7 %) and country receives low number of asylum applications (in 2010 – 61, 2009 – 52, 2008 – 51, 2007 – 34). This is related to obstacles reaching the territory or asylum procedure. There is a high risk, that foreigners are forced to return or deported.

Lithuania > Overview

Of all Baltic States Lithuania has the highest number of asylum seekers (in 2009 – 449, in 2010 – 503), but compared with Europe as a whole the number is small. For many migrants and refugees Lithuania is a transit country to the “old” member states of the EU.

Morocco > Overview

Traditional country of emigration, Morocco has become, in recent years, a transit country to Europe as well as a host for a growing number of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers mainly from sub-Saharan African countries.
With the tightening of control measures at the border areas of southern Europe, these migrants are stranded in Morocco for an indefinite period.

Netherlands > Overview

People can apply for asylum in the Netherlands. However, like everywhere in Europe, it is increasingly difficult to be granted asylum.

Romania > Overview

Romania is traditionally a country of emigration rather than immigration. In fact, immigration is small and inconspicuous. She is also recent, since the 90s.

Serbia > Overview

Serbia is traditionally a country of emigration. It did not used to receiving immigrants, especially from outside of Europe. It is therefore difficult to integrate and find work.

Slovakia > Overview

Slovakia is a little country in the middle of Europe. Despite its membership in the European Union, persons in need of international protection still do not choose Slovakia as a destination country. Slovak immigration politics take into account the national security on the first place. This and other factors may cause that Slovakia is rather transit than destination country for foreigners.

Spain > Overview

Since 2006 ninety percent less migrants have been coming to Spain than in previous years. This is due to the drastic control at the external borders, as well as to the agreements Spain concluded with African countries to prevent people from immigrating.

Sweden > Overview

Migrants from non-European countries can only get a Swedish residence permit either by asylum application or invoke the rules regarding attachment to close relatives. Since the Labour Immigration Law is very strict it’s almost impossible for unskilled workers coming from outside the European Union to get residence permit.

Switzerland > Overview

Switzerland is not a member of the EU but it is part of Dublin II. In addition, Switzerland hasn’t repealed its boarders. Because Switzerland is so small, almost the entire territory is considered as boarder regions. The rail traffic going through (in and out) Chiasso, Geneva, Basel, Kreuzlingen/Konstanz and Buchs/Feldkirch is frequently controlled, as well as the high ways and feeder roads. Train stations are also as much as possible avoided by undocumented persons.

Turkey > Overview

For many refugees and migrants Turkey is a transit country. Many refugees are pushed back illegally across the borders to Iran, Irak and Syria or imprisoned and deported if they are caught without papers by the police. The – land and sea - borders into the European Union, to Bulgaria and Greece, are being controlled more and more. So that the European border police again push people back to Turkey illegally. Ill-treatment in prisons and indefinite time of imprisonment is very common.

Ukraine > Overview

For most refugees and migrants from Asia and Africa Ukraine is mainly a transit-station on their way to other European countries. For migrants from Usbekistan or Moldova (and other citiznes of former soviet union) Ukraine is also a country to find labour.

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