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ECtHR - N.D. and N.T. v. Spain [GC], nos. 8675/15 and 8697/15, 13 February 2020
Country of applicant: Ivory Coast, Mali

The Court found no violation of the Convention given that the applicants would have had access to a genuine and effective possibility of submitting arguments against their expulsion had  they entered lawfully into Spain – they did not have any “cogent reasons” for not using the border procedures available at designated entry points. As such, the lack of an individualised procedure for their removal was the consequence of their own conduct.

Date of decision: 13-02-2020
Relevant International and European Legislation: Art 1,Art 3,Art 32,Art 33,Art 31,Art 4,Art 16,Art 22,Article 4,Article 18,Article 19,Art 19.1,Art 19.2,Article 47,Article 6,Article 7,Article 8,Article 9,Article 10,Article 1,Article 2,Article 4,Article 5,Article 8,Article 12,Article 13,Art 33.2,Article 1,Article 3,Article 13,Article 13,Article 2,Article 4,Article 14,Article 21,Art 4,Art. 3,Article 67,Article 78
France - Administrative Tribunal of Paris, Urgent Applications Judge, February 13th 2019 Decree, N° 1902037/9
Country of applicant: Unknown

The difficulties in access to the regional telephone operating centers set up by the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) in order to obtain an appointment to register asylum applications leads to legal uncertainty for asylum seekers. This legal uncertainty violates their constitutional right to asylum, and therefore creates an emergency situation on which the Urgent Applications Judge can adjudicate.

Date of decision: 13-02-2019
Relevant International and European Legislation: Article 6,Article 9,Article 10
ECtHR - N.D. and N.T. v. Spain, Application Nos. 8675/15 and 8697/15, 3 October 2017
Country of applicant: Ivory Coast, Mali

NB: the case was referred to the Grand Chamber, which issued a new ruling on 13 February 2020. For the EDAL summary of the final judgment, see here.

The continued and exclusive control of contracting State's authorities over individuals creates, at least, a de facto exercise of jurisdiction for the purposes of Article 1 ECHR. 

In light of Spain's jurisdiction over N.D. and N.T, who had attempted to cross the fences separating Morocco from Melilla, Spain was bound by the prohibition of collective expulsions under the Convention. A standardised response of removal to the applicants attempted entry to the Spanish territory without any identification procedure or administrative or judicial measure being first taken meant that the Spanish authorities had violated Article 4 Protocol 4 to the Convention. 
 
The collective expulsion of the applicants was clearly linked to their inability to access a national procedure which would satisfy Article 13 requirements.The applicants had, therefore, also been denied an effective and rigorous remedy which would allow them to contest the collective expulsion. 
Date of decision: 03-10-2017
Relevant International and European Legislation: European Union Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 18,Article 19,Article 47,EN - Recast Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,Article 8,Article 9,Article 11,Article 12,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Article 1,Article 2,Article 8,Article 12,Article 13,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 1,Article 13,Article 41,ECHR (Fourth Protocol),Art 4,Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01,EN - Treaty on European Union,Article 2,Article 6,Article 78
CJEU - C 18/16, K., 14 September 2017

The case concerns the validity of the first subparagraph of Article 8(3)(a) and (b) of the Receptions Conditions Directive in the light of Article 6 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. 

Date of decision: 14-09-2017
Relevant International and European Legislation: European Union Law,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 6,Article 52,EN - Recast Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,Article 2,Article 9,Article 13,EN - Recast Qualification Directive, Directive 2011/95/EU of 13 December 2011,Article 4,EN - Recast Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2013/33/EU of 26 June 2013,Recital (2),Recital (12),Recital (15),Recital (17),Recital (20),Recital (35),Article 8,Article 9,Article 13,Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01,Article 78
Slovenia - Administrative Court of the Republic of Slovenia, 29 July 2016, Judgment I U 1102/2016
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The Slovenian legislature has not fulfilled its obligations under the provisions of Article 2(n) of the Dublin Regulation. The possibility of an analogous application of Article 68 of the Aliens Act-2 has a very weak basis in terms of the objective criteria required. It can only be sufficient in a particular case if in light of the specific circumstances of the case there is no doubt about the existence of the risk of absconding.

Date of decision: 29-07-2016
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,Art 31,European Union Law,International Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 6,Article 53,EN - Recast Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,Recital (27),Recital (54),Article 9,Article 26,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Recital (9),Article 3,Article 15,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 5,EN - Dublin III Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No. 604/2013 of 26 June 2013 (recast Dublin II Regulation),Article 2,Article 28,Article 49,EN - Recast Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2013/33/EU of 26 June 2013,Recital (15),Recital (16),Recital (17),Recital (18),Recital (19),Recital (20),Article 2,Article 7,Article 8,Article 9,Article 10,Article 11,EN - Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01 - Art 288,Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01,Article 78
Netherlands - Court of The Hague, 13 January 2016, AWB 15/22376
Country of applicant: Iran

This case is concerned with whether an appeal against the lawfulness of an asylum applicant’s detention was allowed. Thus the prejudicial question was formulated questioning whether the measure under article 8(3)(a-b) recast Reception Conditions Directive is valid with regards to the provisions in Article 6 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (CFREU) subject to Article 5 European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Date of decision: 13-01-2016
Relevant International and European Legislation: European Union Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 6,Article 52,EN - Recast Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,Article 2,Article 9,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 5,EN - Recast Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2013/33/EU of 26 June 2013,Article 2,Article 8,Article 9,Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01,Article 267 § 2,Article 267 § 1 (b)
Greece - Supreme Court, 19 September 2008, Application No. 2025/2008
Country of applicant: Iran

Extradition to Iran of an Iranian citizen. The wanted person was a political refugee who had been recognised by the UN High Commission for Refugees. The Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) rejected the extradition request because of his status and because of the appeal he lodged under the provisions of Article 5 (2) of Presidential Decree 8/2008.

Date of decision: 19-09-2008
Relevant International and European Legislation: Art 33.1,Article 9,Article 21