Ad-Hoc Query on expenditure of asylum system Requested by NL EMN NCP on 26 September 2012 Compilation produced on 14 January 2013 Responses from Austria, Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway (18 in Total) Disclaimer: The following responses have been provided primarily for the purpose of information exchange among EMN NCPs in the framework of the EMN. The contributing EMN NCPs have provided, to the best of their knowledge, information that is up-to-date, objective and reliable. Note, however, that the information provided does 1. Background Information The Netherlands carried out a research regarding the expenditure for the asylum systems in the EU Member States. Against this background the minister for Immigration, Integration and Asylum requests the following ad-hoc query. The specification of the expenditure for the asylum system in the Netherlands is given as guidance for the formulation of the asylum expenditures in your country. It is not necessary to group the expenditure in the exact same way. More important is that the outline of your country s asylum expenses can be compared with the asylum expenses in the Netherlands.
Since this ad-hoc query is particularly relevant for policy making, you are kindly asked to provide your answers as soon as possible and no later than 15 October 2012. 2. Responses Wider Dissemination? Austria No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Belgium No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Estonia Yes 1. Reception of asylum seekers The expenditure for the reception includes the costs of housing, allowance for food, supply of essential clothing, other necessities and toiletries, medicines, health care services, Estonian language classes, essential translation, transportation, guidance of/consultations with asylum seekers and providing necessary information. Total budget at 2012: 232.162 The expenditure for the first accommodation in Police and Boarder Guard and other expenses related to asylum procedure (staff costs, costs of housing, allowance for food, health care services, translation etc). Total budget at 2012: 65.616 3. Returns for asylum seekers The expenditure for the expulsion centre (staff costs, costs of housing, allowance for food, health care services, translation etc.). Total budget at 2012: 70.946 4. Dublin procedures Dublin procedures costs and costs to asylum seekers who receive a refused decision (deportation costs, transport costs, food and heath care) Total budget at 2012: 53.197 5. Legal aid for asylum seekers: From European Refugee Fund 2010. Funds about 22.900. 2 of 9
Finland Yes Expenditure for asylum system in Finland (actual expenditure in 2011, ) 1. Reception of asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process includes the costs of housing, weekly allowance for food and clothing, health care insurance, social services, interpretation and translation, guidance of/consultations with asylum seekers and providing necessary information. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 76,5 millions The expenditure for the primary process includes the expected workload due to the expected influx of asylum seekers, the hearing of asylum seekers and assessment of applications, decisions on applications Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 11,5 millions 3. Supervision regarding asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process includes border security checks (land and water), documentation/id checks, registration, domestic surveillance and required registrations. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 1,7 millions 4. Returns for asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process of return includes the tickets for public transport and return allowances for asylum seekers when returning, travel documents arrangements, expulsion of third-country nationals including detention (so-called aliens detention), Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 3,7 millions 5. Legal aid for asylum seekers Legal advice, legal aid and interpretation for asylum seekers. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 1,4 mln. France Yes The budgetary resources allocated to the reception of asylum seekers in 2011 are as follows: - 333 million were spent on measures for asylum seekers housing. - 199 million were allocated to reception centres for asylum seekers (Centre d accueil de demandeurs d asile = CADA). In CADA, asylum seekers receive financial aid for food (Allocation mensuelle de subsistance = AMS). The AMS amounted to 32 million, which corresponds to 16% of the 199 million allocated by the State for the functioning of CADA. - 134 million were allocated to emergency shelters. - Asylum seekers who are not received in CADA can benefit from the temporary waiting allowance (Allocation temporaire d attente = ATA). Its payment accounted for 145 million. - In addition, the State spent almost 10 million to finance reception platforms. However, we can not provide accurate figures on expenditures for asylum procedure as well as voluntary and forced returns. As the 3 of 9
Central Directorate of Border Police (Direction centrale de la police aux frontières = DCPAF) does not make distinction between asylum seekers and migrants, it is not possible to identify the costs related to supervision regarding asylum seekers. Germany Yes 1. Reception of asylum seekers Due to the federal organization of the reception systems (each of the 16 Länder has an independent reception system) we have no figures about the total costs for the reception of asylum seekers. In the year 2009 the gross expenditure under the Act on Benefits for Asylum Seekers (AsylbLG) were 788,8 million, but included also expenditures for rejected asylum seekers, civil war refugees and others. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees does not conduct full cost accounting, so no reliable information is possible. 3. Entry / Documentation This is the responsibility of the Federal Police and the Länder, there are no figures about the total cost available. 4. Return Figures on the total cost of return of asylum seekers are not available. 5. Legal aid This is the responsibility of the Länder, information about the total cost is not available. Hungary Yes Persons seeking recognition shall be entitled to the following provisions and benefits during the preliminary assessment procedure : Material reception conditions 1. Three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or food allowance in equivalent value. The basic amount of food allowance is 875,- FT / day (~3 ). The premium amount is 950,-FT/day (~4 ) if the applicant is under 18 year/ pregnant/lactating mother. 2. Hygiene allowance once in a month. The amount are: for men1550,-ft ( ~5 ), and for women: 1800,-Ft (~6 ). Reimbursement of the costs of schooling and education: It is provided upon request by the asylum authorities. Travel allowances: It consists of the costs -3500,-FT ( ~13 ) of the local or intercity public transport tickets or season-ticket for travelling to the educational institution In addition to those listed above the following provisions and benefits shall be granted during the detailed procedure : Material reception conditions 1. Monthly allowance of free use: the amount is differentiated. 25% -7125,- FT (~27 ) -of the prevailing minimum amount of the old-age pension in the following cases: a) During the stay in the reception centre if the minors under the age of 18, b) for the persons for whom the reception centre cannot offer job opportunities, c) persons who have reached the age of 60, who have permanent and irreversible 4 of 9
deterioration of health, who suffer from a mental or physical disability, who are pregnant or are unable to work due to raising children under six months of age. It is 10% of the prevailing minimum amount of the old-age pension in the following cases: a) during the stay in the reception centre in the case of applicants of full age, b) persons detained based on a binding judicial decision establishing the responsibility of the person in a case of criminal or minor offence. 2. Among reimbursement of the costs of schooling and education: School-start benefit - 28.500,-Ft. (~ 105 )- can be granted upon request. Applicants can receive clothing necessary- in the reception centre primarily from donation. According to the law asylum seekers have free health care. Italy Yes In Italy the asylum reception system is based on specific reception projects (this system is called SPRAR - System of Protection for Asylum Applicants and Refugees) implemented by local bodies and funded by the National Fund for asylum policies and services (FNPSA). Estimated expenditure for 2012 is equal to 10 mln. Please note that thanks to this system, at local level, the local bodies may also benefit from the (free) support of third sector agencies that provide complementary activities and services. A separate expense item is devoted to those protection seekers hosted at Reception Centres for Asylum Applicants (CARA) for identification purposes (maximum 20 days), or because they have entered the national territory avoiding border checks, in case of irregular stay, or who have submitted their asylum application after an expulsion or refusal of entry (maximum 35 days). Estimated expenditure for the management of reception centres for asylum applicant in 2012 is equal to 10 mln. The above-mentioned expense items do not calculate some costs that are attributable to public services and whose beneficiaries are also asylum applicants, that nevertheless cannot be disaggregated separately (i.e. medical care, education, etc.). Finally, Territorial Commissions responsible for granting international protection have implied an annual expense of 3 mln 200 thousand (excluding staff costs for public officers). Source of the above-mentioned specifications of expenditure is the Ministry of Interior budget for 2012. Further expense items cannot be disaggregated, thus it is not possible to provide the overall expenditure for asylum system in Italy. Latvia Yes Expenditure for asylum system without administrative costs in 2011 (in total 335 asylum seekers): a) accommodation, feeding and health care if asylum seekers are in detention centre 231.624.00 EUR; b) the covering of Expenses for the Purchase of Subsistence, Hygiene and Basic Necessities during the asylum procedure when asylum seekers are staying in accommodation centre 42.165.00 EUR; c) health care (emergency medical assistance and primary health care) 19 061.00 EUR; 5 of 9
d) interpretation and translation 24 775.00 EUR; e) legal aid in appeal procedure (legal consultations, drawing up of procedural documents and representation at hearing before the Court, travel and accommodation costs for legal aid providers) 1506. 00 EUR; the process of voluntary or forced return (transport tickets for returnees and escort providers, insurance for escort, travel documents arrangements, daily allowance (including feeding and hotel expenses if necessary) for returnees 27 065.00 EUR. Luxembourg Yes In Luxembourg, the budget 2012 establishes certain budgetary items for the international protection applicants and for the rejected international protection applicants. In relation with reception, accommodation facilities, social support and return: a) Luxemburgish Reception and Integration Agency and reception shelters for international protection applicants. Guardian and security services: 4.275.000 b) Care system (including maintenance) of international protection applicants, final aid for voluntary return, Peri- and Para scholar activities; damage caused to third parties, legal fees, functioning of reception shelters: 8.500.000 c) Return expenses: Direct and indirect expenses related to return of irregular migrants: 1.000.000 This item includes the rejected international protection applicants Malta No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Netherlands Yes Expenditure for asylum system in the Netherlands In the Netherlands five categories of expenditure for the asylum system can be distinguished. For each category the actual expenditures in round figures in 2011 are specified. Please note that below the primary process is described, of which the estimated expenditure also includes overhead expenses that not have been specified. 1. Reception of asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process includes the costs of housing, weekly allowance for food and clothing, health care insurance, guidance of/consultations with asylum seekers and providing necessary information. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 460 mln. The expenditure for the primary process includes the expected workload due to the expected influx of asylum seekers, the hearing of asylum seekers and assessment of applications. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 175 mln. 3. Supervision regarding asylum seekers 6 of 9
The expenditure for the primary process includes border security checks (land and water), documentation/id checks, registration, domestic surveillance and required registrations. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 30 mln. 4. Returns for asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process of return (voluntary and forced) includes the tickets for public transport and return allowances for asylum seekers when returning, travel documents arrangements, embassy activities, drafting of official reports, expulsion of third-country nationals including detention (so-called aliens detention), guidance and education in country of origin in order to increase the quality of life in the country of origin. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 190 mln. 5. Legal aid for asylum seekers Council of State, legal aid and jurisdiction for asylum seekers. Total actual expenditure (primary process and overhead): 95 mln. Poland No This EMN NCP has provided a response to the requesting EMN NCP. However, they have requested that it is not disseminated further. Slovak Republic Yes 1. Structure of the usual expenditures on the asylum policy within the Migration Office (responsible for asylum proceeding) is as follows: salaries, insurance and social security fund of the employees, direct costs on the asylum applicants, integration, rental costs for IOM and UNHCR, operation of the office in 2011 this concerned 3,1 mil. EUR Direct costs on the asylum applicants concerned in 2011 1,57 mil EUR while this sum includes accommodation, meals, pocket money, interpretation, transfer, security guard in the centres, expenditures for healthcare, salaries, projects co funding. Direct cost per asylum applicant per day in 2011 represented 46,49 EUR. 2. We are not able to provide this information as the data are not collected in this manner. 3. Also the Slovak Republic has the same expenditures as stated in the question 3 however they represent only one part of the overall police work and agenda and it is not possible to separate only expenditures for asylum proceeding. 4. Also the Slovak Republic has the same expenditures as stated in the question 4 however it is not possible to separate the expenditures only relevant to asylum proceeding. Besides mentioned expenditures there are other expenditures relevant to asylum proceeding such as petrol relevant to escorts, plane tickets (for returnees and for the escort if applicable), accommodation (for the escort of applicable), preparation of the emergency travel documents, interpretation, healthcare, costs relevant to Dublin transfers, etc. 5. The legal counselling and assistance to the asylum seekers is financed via European Refugee Fund and provided by the relevant NGOs 7 of 9
as well as by the Centre for Legal Aid which is financed from the state budget. Legal charges represent part of the direct costs on the asylum seekers. Spain Yes Firstly, it is necessary to clarify that no answer can be given for the questions asked in points 3, 4 and 5 of the outline provided by the Netherlands in their query, as the Spanish budgetary framework does not include expenditures itemised with this level of disaggregation. Also, the Spanish legal system does not include provisions on the expulsion of asylum seekers. 1. For the RECEPTION of applicants for international protection (asylum seekers), the General Secretariat for Immigration and Emigration (Ministry of Employment and Social Security) has budgeted 25.5 million euros for 2012. 2. Budget expenditure for the Asylum and Refuge Office is 3.32 million euros for 2012. This does not include the expenditure of other administrative units which are also responsible for processing asylum applications or which carry out tasks which are ancillary or complementary to the processing of such applications (police stations, technical police units, embassies and consulates). 3. Not available. These expenditures form part of the budgetary allocations for costs arising from border controls. 4. Not available. These expenditures form part of the budgetary allocations for expulsions. Also, Spanish legislation requires an obligatory exit within 15 days for persons whose application for international protection has been denied, as it does for cases where applications for residency are denied. Until this period has expired, the person is not illegally present and expulsion procedures cannot begin, so that in the strict sense, we cannot use the term return for asylum seekers. 5. The cost of these services is included in the expenditure for processing international protection (asylum) applications. Sweden Yes Expenditure for asylum system in Sweden In Sweden, four categories of expenditure for the asylum system can be distinguished. For each category, the actual expenditures in 2011 are specified. In order to provide a context for these, is should be noted that in 2011-29,648 new asylum seekers came to Sweden, - 30,404 applications first instance decisions were processed and - 14,290 appealed cases were settled. 1. Preparation and decision phase: The expenditure for this phase includes asylum interviews, establishment of identity of applicants, establishing travel routes, country of origin information, Dublin transfers, preparation of cases for decision-making, preparation of cases for court procedures, costs of legal assistance, among other elements. Total expenditure in 2011: 84 mln 2. Appeal phase: Court proceedings and reconsideration of decisions by the Swedish Migration Board, total expenditure 2011: 64 mln 8 of 9
3. Enforcement phase The expenditure for this phase includes e.g. compensations paid by the Swedish Migration Board to municipalities providing accommodation and integration measures for asylum seekers who have been granted a residence permits as well as certain costs pertaining to voluntary return. Total expenditure 2011: 454 mln. (Please note that forced return measures are not included here.) 4. Reception system This includes different kinds of reception costs that arise while asylum seekers await a decision on their application, settlement in municipalities, integration measures or return respectively, such as e.g. housing costs, costs of daily allowances, cost of health care and of education. Total expenditure in 2011: 546 mln United Kingdom Yes UK Border Agency accounts are published on the Home Office website: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/aboutus/annual-reports-accounts/annual-report-11-12.pdf?view=binary Reported Asylum Support costs for 2011-12 (year ending 31 March 2012) were: 284,639,000 Norway Yes Estimated expenditures for the asylum system in Norway 2011 1. Reception of asylum seekers The expenditure for the primary process includes the costs of housing, weekly allowance for food and clothing, health care insurance, guidance of/consultations with asylum seekers and providing necessary information: 346 mln. The expenditures include those of the initial as well as the appeals procedures: 86 mln. 3. Supervision regarding asylum seekers These expenditures cannot be separately identified and may be included under one or more of the other headings. 4. Returns for asylum seekers The expenditures for the primary process of return (voluntary and forced) include the tickets for public transport and return allowances for former asylum seekers when returning, travel documents arrangements, expulsion and escorting of third-country nationals: 57 mln. ************************ 9 of 9