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Germany – Federal Constitutional Court, 17 September 2014, 2 BvR 1795/14
Country of applicant: Ethiopia

The decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court allowed a Dublin transfer of a woman and her infant child to Italy stating that the applicants did not sufficiently substantiate that they were at risk of living on the streets when returned to Italy.

The competent authority has to provide suitable guarantees to ensure the well-being of the infant applicant when returned to Italy.

Date of decision: 17-09-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: European Union Law,EN - Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,EN - Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003,EN - Dublin III Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No. 604/2013 of 26 June 2013 (recast Dublin II Regulation),EN - Recast Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2013/33/EU of 26 June 2013
Slovakia – Supreme Court, 29/7/2014, M.L.J. in Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, Presidium of the Police Force, Foreign and Border Police, Directorate of the Foreign and Border Police Sobrance, Department of the Border Control Podhoroď, 1Sža/21
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The Respondent erred in detaining the Applicant under § 88a (1)(a) point 1 of Act No 404/2011 Coll. on the residence of aliens and amending certain other Acts in proceedings relating to administrative expulsion to the Ukraine, despite being aware of the Applicant’s intention to apply for asylum. The Respondent also incorrectly assessed whether Ukraine is a safe third country as he failed to take into account recent information on the current situation in Ukraine. Moreover, in assessing the risk of absconding, the Respondent asked improper questions. As such the Respondent's conduct violates principles of good governance.

Date of decision: 29-07-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,Art 32,Art 31,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 6,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Recital (9),Article 15,1.,4.,EN - Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003,Article 7,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 5,Art 5.1,Art 5.4
CJEU - Joined Cases C‑473/13 and C‑514/13 Adala Bero v Regierungspräsidium Kassel and Ettayebi Bouzalmate v Kreisverwaltung Kleve
Country of applicant: Morocco, Syria

A member state cannot rely on the fact that there are no specialized detention facilities in a part of its territory to justify keeping non-citizens in prison pending their removal.

Date of decision: 17-07-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 1,Article 7,Article 14,Article 24,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Recital (2),Recital (6),Recital (16),Recital (17),Article 1,Article 15,1.,5.,6.,Article 16,1.,Article 18
CJEU - C‑474/13, Thi Ly Pham v Stadt Schweinfurt, Amt für Meldewesen und Statistik
Country of applicant: Vietnam

A member state cannot rely on the fact that there are no specialized detention facilities in a part of its territory to justify keeping non-citizens in prison pending their removal. The same rule applies even if the migration detainee has consented to being confined to prison.

Date of decision: 17-07-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 16,Article 18,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Recital (17),Article 15,1.,5.,6.
ECtHR - Georgia v Russia, Application no 13255/07, 3 July 2014
Country of applicant: Georgia

The ECtHR holds that Russia is in violation of Article 5 ECHR and of Article 4 of Protocol 4 through the implementation of an unlawful administrative practice against a large number of Georgian nationals as a means of identifying them. This led to the arrest, detention and collective expulsion of 4634 Georgians from the Russian Federation and further violations of Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention.

Date of decision: 03-07-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,ECHR (Frist Protocol),Art 2,European Union Law,International Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,Article 4,Article 19,Article 21,EN - Recast Asylum Procedures Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,Recital (25),Recital (38),Recital (42),Recital (50),Article 20,Article 25,Article 36,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Article 13,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 2,Article 3,Article 5,Article 8,Article 13,Article 14,Article 18,Article 35,Article 38,EN - Dublin III Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No. 604/2013 of 26 June 2013 (recast Dublin II Regulation),Article 27,ECHR (Fourth Protocol),Art 4,Art 1
UK - R (on the application of EM (Eritrea)) and Others (Appellants) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Respondent)
Country of applicant: Eritrea, Iran

The Supreme Court held that a person who is resisting a Dublin  transfer to the Member State responsible for processing the applicant's asylum claim need not show that there is a “systemic deficiency” in that Member State’s asylum system, rather that the conditions in that Member State would expose the person to inhumane and degrading treatment as prohibited by Article 3 ECHR. 

Date of decision: 19-02-2014
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Qualification Directive, Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004,1951 Refugee Convention,EN - Asylum Procedures Directive, Council Directive 2005/85/EC of 1 December 2005,ECHR (Frist Protocol),EN - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,EN - Reception Conditions Directive, Directive 2003/9/EC of 27 January 2003,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,EN - Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003
Finland - Supreme Administrative Court, 22 November 2013, KHO:2013:180
Country of applicant: Bulgaria, Iraq

According to section 51 of the Aliens Act, third-country nationals residing in Finland are issued with a temporary residence permit if they cannot be returned to their home country or country of permanent residence for temporary reasons of health or if they cannot be removed from the country.

This case concerned whether it was necessary that there was an enforceable decision to remove the person when the Immigration Service examined the requirements for a residence permit under section 51. The Court considered whether the Immigration Service should examine if there are in reality obstacles to the removal of a person, before it makes a decision to remove this person.

Date of decision: 22-11-2013
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,Article 8
CJEU - C-297/12, Gjoko Filev, Adnan Osmani
Country of applicant: Macedonia, Serbia

The Returns Directive does not permit an entry ban to be time limited only in circumstances where the recipient makes an application for such.

Date of decision: 19-09-2013
Relevant International and European Legislation: Recital (4),Recital (5),Recital (14),Article 2,Article 3,Article 7,Article 11,Article 20
CJEU - C-383/13, M.G., N.R., Other Party: Staatssecretaris van Veiligheid en Justitie
Country of applicant: Unknown

In determining the lawfulness of continued detention after a breach of defence rights, the domestic authorities must ask whether, in light of all factual and legal circumstances, the outcome of the administrative procedure at issue could have been different if the third-country nationals in question had been able to put forward information which might show that their detention should be brought to an end.

Date of decision: 10-09-2013
Relevant International and European Legislation: Recital (11),Recital (13),Recital (16),Article 1,Article 2,Article 15,Art 41.2
Poland - Polish Refugee Board, 28 August 2013, RdU-310-1/S/13
Country of applicant: Russia

A bad situation in the country of origin does not constitute a sufficient intrinsic reason to accord refugee status or other forms of protection.

One cannot question the credibility of an applicant solely on the basis of a discrepancy between the information stated in the application and the information provided in subsequent stages of the proceedings.

Date of decision: 28-08-2013
Relevant International and European Legislation: Art 2,Art 4,Art 23,EN - Returns Directive, Directive 2008/115/EC of 16 December 2008,EN - Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 2010/C 83/01 - Art 288