National case summaries

France – Constitutional Council, 1 June 2018, N° 2018-709 Priority Question of Constitutionality (QPC)

The Constitutional Council decides on the constitutionality of the deadline to appeal against a return order, as applicable to a third-country national being detained, under paragraph 4 of Article L. 512-1 of the Code of Entry and Stay of Foreigners and the Right to Asylum (CESEDA). The Council decides hereby that the deadline proves to be too short- consequently unconstitutional- to effectively exercise the right to remedy in the context of detention.

Date of decision: 01-06-2018
Italy - Ordinary Court of Rome, RG No. 58068/2017, 25 May 2018
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The request submitted by the Italian authorities to Norway to take back the applicant would imply his immediate repatriation to his country of origin, Afghanistan, which, in the light of the Court’s reasoning, is not to be considered a safe country.

Date of decision: 25-05-2018
Denmark - the Refugee Appeals Board’s decision of 25 May 2018
Country of applicant: Syria

The complainant, an Ethnic Maktumin Stateless Kurd from Amuda, Al-Hasakah, Syria, was granted temporary protection under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (3).

On 31 August 2017 the complainant lodged a complaint claiming refugee status under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (1) or alternatively subsidiary protection under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (2).

The Board found that the complainant fulfilled the conditions for subsidiary protection under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (2) as he would risk participating in acts of war during the compulsory military service.

Date of decision: 25-05-2018
Greece – Three-Member Administrative Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki – Department B – 18 May 2018 – Mariglen Latifi v Minister of Immigration Policy
Country of applicant: Albania

The refusal to grant residence permit and the subsequent return order were issued without a hearing. Although a hearing in administrative procedures initiated by the applicant is not always required, the Court found that the hearing would have led to a well-rounded and more substantial review of his right to remain under a different type of residence permit, as well as any factors precluding his return.

Date of decision: 18-05-2018
Germany – Bavarian Higher Administrative Court, 16 May 2018, 20 ZB 18.50011
Keywords: Dublin Transfer

Church asylum does not extend the time limit of a Dublin transfer.

Date of decision: 16-05-2018
Italy - Tribunal of Milan, 9 May 2018, CJEU Preliminary Reference
Country of applicant: Nigeria

The Court submitted a request for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union on the requirement of an automatic suspension of the execution of a negative decision on applications for international protection under EU law.

Date of decision: 09-05-2018
UK - The Secretary of State for the Home Department v MA (Somalia), Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 2 May 2018
Country of applicant: Somalia

UK Court of Appeal rules on the correct test to use when making a decision on cessation of refugee status.

Date of decision: 02-05-2018
Court of The Hague, 20 April 2018, NL 18.5178
Country of applicant: Palestinian Territory

The State Secretary has to carefully weigh interests when deciding about the application of Article 17 (discretionary clauses) of the Dublin Regulation where it concerns an adult applicant whose family members are beneficiaries of international protection in this Member State. The fact that an earlier request for family reunification has been refused, does not imply that the potentially destabilizing effect of a Dublin transfer no longer has to be taken into consideration.

Date of decision: 20-04-2018
Germany - Federal Administrative Court, Decision 1 C 29/17, 19 April 2018
Country of applicant: Eritrea

§ 104 para. 13 S. 1 of AufenthG (Residence Law) impedes the claim of a person with subsidiary protection for the assessment of a case of non-refoulment referring to the situation in the state of origin according to § 60 Abs. 5 AufenthG and Art. 3 ECHR in order to enable family reunion due to the lack of a defensible interest. 

Date of decision: 19-04-2018
UK - HA, AA and NA v Secretary of State for the Home Department, JR/10195/2017, 19 April 2018
Country of applicant: United Kingdom

The UK Secretary of State for the Home Department’s (SSHD) refusal to accede to a take charge request of a stateless wife and her child in Greece wishing to reunite with their British husband/father in the UK is a breach of Article 7 Charter/8 ECHR (and Article 6(1) of the HRA 1998) on the basis that the SSHD’s decisions were disproportionate and not justified. Notwithstanding that the husband/father is a British citizen, the Dublin Regulation applies, notably Articles 9 and 17(2). In respect of Article 9 Dublin Regulation III, it can be relied upon even where an individual in receipt of international protection subsequently naturalises as a British citizen. 

 

Date of decision: 19-04-2018