Information for Ukrainians – Інформація для Українців

This is not a certified translation

 

Про статус біженця

 

Будь-яка людина, яка через страх переслідування з міркувань раси, віросповідання, національності, політичної думки чи членства в певній соціальній групі та яка:

 

як громадянин третьої країни: знаходиться за межами своєї країни громадянства і через такі опасіння, не вимагає захисту від цієї країни; або

 

як особа без громадянства: знаходиться за межами країни свого звичайного місця проживання і не може або через такі опасіння не бажає повертатися в цю країну.

 

Про статус додаткового захисту

 

Будь-яка людина, яку не можна вважати біженцем, але у якої є сильні та наочні підстави вважати, що якби цю людину відправили назад у свою країну походження, він/вона зіткнеться з реальною небезпекою зазнати серйозної шкоди:

 

стосовно громадян третіх країн: у країні їх походження; або

 

щодо осіб без громадянства: у країні, де вони проживали.

 

Приклади серйозної шкоди:

 

смертна кара;

 

катування або нелюдське або принизливе поводження ;

 

серйозна та індивідуальна загроза життю чи особистості цивільної особи внаслідок безрозбірливого насильства, що виникає в ситуаціях міжнародного чи внутрішнього збройного конфлікту.

 

Як діяти далі

 

Заява про міжнародний захист

 

Заявники мають висловити своє бажання особисто подати заяву про міжнародний захист особисто до наступних установ:

 

Міністерство закордонних та європейських справ (MAEE – Direction de l’Immigration, Service des réfugiés); або

 

Служба управління (Service de contrôle) в аеропорту; або

 

Поліція Великого Герцогства Люксембург; або

 

Слідчий ізолятор, куди був поміщений біженець; або

 

Державна в’язниця, куди був поміщений біженець.

 

Заявники на міжнародний захист можуть подати заяву про захист осіб, які відповідають за них (неповнолітні, дорослі, які погодилися на подання заяви від свого імені).

 

Неповнолітні, які не супроводжуються, можуть подати заяву про міжнародний захист особисто або через “спеціального адміністратора”, призначеного суддею опіки. Роль адміністратора полягає у наданні допомоги та представництву неповнолітнього через процедуру щодо заяви про міжнародний захист. Якщо ймовірно, що неповнолітній досягне 18 років під час процедури, немає необхідності призначити спеціального адміністратора.

 

У разі сумнівів щодо віку неповнолітнього, який не супроводжується, неповнолітнього можна запросити на медичний огляд, щоб визначити його вік.

 

Реєстрація заявок

 

Заявники повинні представити себе особисто (включаючи неповнолітніх, навіть якщо вони не супроводжуються) до Управління імміграції Міністерства закордонних та європейських справ, щоб зареєструвати свою заяву.

 

Заявники отримують:

 

пояснювальний документ щодо заяв про міжнародний захист, включаючи їх обов’язки та зобов’язання. Документ складається мовою, яку, ймовірно, зрозуміє заявник;

 

інформація про їхнє право на отримання безкоштовної допомоги від перекладача, який розмовляє мовою, яку, ймовірно, зрозуміє біженець;

 

інформація про їхнє право вимагати за власний рахунок адвоката, зареєстрованого в одній із адвокатських асоціацій у Люксембурзі, або звернутися за допомогою до служби правової допомоги.

 

На момент реєстрації заявники отримають форму та призначується час зустрічі для подання заяви.

 

На момент призначення заявники повинні подати заповнену форму та підтверджуючі документи, щоб заявку на міжнародний захист можна було розглянути. Дані на бланку – це особисті дані заявника та інша корисна інформація.

 

Заявники також повинні здати взамін на отримання квитанції свої документи, що посвідчують особу, та інші корисні документи, які будуть повернуті після надання їм одного із статусів. Документи, що посвідчують особу, не повертаються, якщо заявнику надано статус біженця. Якщо статус відмовлено, всі документи повертаються заявнику, коли він / вона видаляється з Люксембурга.

 

За винятком документів, що посвідчують особу, будь-який документ, поданий мовою, відмінною від німецької, англійської чи французької, повинен супроводжуватися перекладом на одну з цих 3(троьх) мов.

 

Зявник буду сфотографований.

 

Заявники на міжнародний захист також будуть опитані кримінальним поліцейським, який відповідає за перевірку особи та маршруту заявника до прибуття до Люксембургу. В них будуть взяті відбитки пальців, і, якщо буде визнано необхідним, може відбутися фізичний обшук.

 

Кандидати також можуть отримати призначення співбесіди.

 

Видача довідки

 

В принципі, заявники отримають сертифікат (“papier rose” – “рожевий документ”) через 3 дні після подання заявки.

 

Сертифікат дозволяє заявникам перебувати в Люксембурзі під час опрацювання заявки на міжнародний захист, а також вільно пересуватися в Люксембурзі.

 

Сертифікат не дозволяє їздити за кордон. Винятки будуть надані молодим школярам, які беруть участь у шкільній поїздці за кордон.

 

В принципі, термін дії “рожевого документа” становить один місяць, поновлюється щомісяця до кінця процедури оформлення. Поновлення довідки потрібно вимагати особисто у відділі Управління справами біженців (Service des réfugiés) в Управлінні імміграції не пізніше того дня, коли термін дії сертифіката закінчиться.

 

Сертифікат не дійсний ні як документ, що посвідчує особу, ні як дозвіл на проживання.

 

Нагляд за особами, які шукають притулку

 

Після подання заяви заявник на міжнародний захист зустрінеться із соціальним працівником Національного приймального бюро (ОНА), який відповідає за заявників на міжнародний захист та може надати інформацію про різні види допомоги.

 

Декларація про прибуття або вибір місця проживання

 

Протягом 8 днів після подання заяви про міжнародний захист заявники повинні подати декларацію про прибуття до комуни, де вони оселилися.

 

Вони також можуть обрати місце проживання у резиденції свого представника (свого адвоката).

 

Будь-яка зміна місця проживання в межах однієї комуни повинна бути оголошена комуні. У разі перенесення звичайного місця проживання в іншу комуну заявник повинен повідомити комуну про нове місце проживання.

 

Якщо призначене або звичайне місце проживання не визначено, місцем проживання вважається Міністерство закордонних та європейських справ. У цьому випадку міністр надасть публічне повідомлення в Міністерстві на термін 30-ти днів. У повідомленні має бути вказана дата, коли воно буде розміщене на дисплеї, та характер надаваного документа. Він також повинен зазначити місце, куди документ може бути надісланий заявнику.

 

Якщо виняток не надано міністром, заявник повинен залишитися в країні. Однак він або вона має право вільно пересуватися по країні під час опрацювання його заяви.

 

Кандидати повинні пройти медичний огляд протягом 6 тижнів після в’їзду в країну.

 

Індивідуальне інтерв’ю

 

Кандидати отримують лист поштою до свого звичайного місця проживання або призначеного місця проживання, запрошуючи їх на поглиблене інтерв’ю. Лист також може бути доставлений особисто.

 

Якщо призначене або звичайне місце проживання не визначено, місцем проживання вважається Міністерство закордонних та європейських справ (МАЕЕ). В цьому випадку, запрошення на поглиблене інтерв’ю буде оголошено в міністерстві.

 

Заявники повинні з’явитися особисто в заплановану дату та час із запрошенням та посвідченням (рожевим документом) в департаменті по справам біженців в Управлінні імміграції.

 

Непоява на заплановану співбесіду може бути виправдана лише медичними причинами. Тому заявникам пропонується якомога швидше повідомити посадову особу, яка проводить співбесіду, зателефонувавши за номером, зазначеним у запрошенні, та надати медичну довідку, видану лікарем. У разі сумнівів, МАЕ може звернутися з проханням надати висновок медичного працівника, щоб визначити, чи підходить заявник для участі в інтерв’ю чи ні.

 

Кожного дорослого з однієї родини опитують окремо. Інший член сім’ї може бути винятково присутнім.

 

Заявникам дозволяється користуватися допомогою перекладача, якщо співбесіда проводиться мовою, яку вони не розуміють.

 

Їм також може допомогти адвокат.

 

Інтерв’ю – це можливість для заявників на міжнародний захист детально пояснити причини їх звернення, а також причини, через які вони покинули свою країну. Відповіді на запитання повинні бути щирими, чіткими та відображати правду.

 

Кандидати повинні пред’явити, якщо вони мають, оригінали документів або інші документи, які можуть підтвердити свою особу, громадянство, сімейний стан, причину їх звернення, тощо.

 

Будь-який документ, поданий мовою, відмінною від німецької, англійської чи французької, повинен супроводжуватися перекладом на одну з цих 3 мов.

 

Заяви, зроблені під час інтерв’ю, відзначаються з метою складання письмового, детального та фактичного звіту. Кандидати мають право прочитати звіт або заслухати його та вимагати змін, які будуть відмічені в кінці звіту.

 

Їм пропонується підписати звіт, як і усім іншим особам, які були присутні під час співбесіди. Якщо заявник відмовляється підписувати звіт, слід зазначити причини.

 

Підпис не потрібен у випадку аудіо- чи відеозаписаних інтерв’ю. Потім заявники можуть подати свої коментарі у письмовій формі протягом 8 днів після подання звіту.

 

Інтерв’ю є конфіденційним.

 

Якщо залишаються сумніви щодо походження заявника, можна провести мовні тести. Таким же чином, якщо заявник стверджує, що є жертвою переслідування або серйозної шкоди тілу чи здоров’ю, може бути проведена медицинський огляд.

 

Прийнятність заяви

Заява не буде розглянута, якща Міністерство закордонних і європейських справ об’явить себе некомпетентним для розгляду заяви на надання міжнародного захисту, а саме у випадку, якщо інка країна є компетентною в данному питанні. В такому випадку заявник буде переданий до такої країни.

О статусе беженца

 

Любое лицо, которое, опасаясь преследований по признаку расы, религии, национальности, политических убеждений или принадлежности к определенной социальной группе, и которое:

 

как гражданин третьей страны: находится за пределами страны своего гражданства и, в силу этих опасений, не требует защиты от этой страны; или

как лицо без гражданства: находится за пределами страны своего обычного места жительства и не может или, в силу таких опасений, не желает возвращаться в эту страну.

 

О статусе дополнительной защиты

 

Любое лицо, которое не может считаться беженцем, но в отношении которого существуют веские и очевидные основания полагать, что если это лицо будет отправлено обратно в страну происхождения, то ему/ей будет угрожать реальная опасность причинения серьезного вреда:

 

в отношении граждан третьих стран: в стране их происхождения; или

в отношении лиц без гражданства: в стране, где они ранее проживали.

 

Примеры серьезного вреда:

 

смертная казнь;

пытки или бесчеловечное или унижающее достоинство обращение;

серьезная и индивидуальная угроза жизни или личности гражданского лица в результате неизбирательного насилия, возникающего в ситуациях международного или внутреннего вооруженного конфликта.

 

Как действовать

Заявление о предоставлении международной защиты

 

Заявители должны выразить свое желание подать заявление о предоставлении международной защиты лично в:

 

Министерство иностранных и европейских дел (MAEE – Direction de l’Immigration, Service des réfugiés); или

в службу контроля (Service de contrôle) в аэропорту; или

великогерцогская полиция; или

центр содержания под стражей, куда был помещен беженец; или

государственную тюрьму, куда был помещен беженец.

 

Заявители на международную защиту могут подать заявление на защиту лиц, находящихся под их ответственностью (неэмансипированные несовершеннолетние, взрослые, согласившиеся на подачу заявления от своего имени).

 

Несопровождаемые несовершеннолетние могут подать заявление о предоставлении международной защиты лично или через “администратора ad hoc”, назначенного судьей по опеке. Роль администратора заключается в оказании помощи и представлении интересов несовершеннолетнего в ходе процедуры, касающейся подачи заявления о предоставлении международной защиты. Если существует вероятность того, что несовершеннолетний достигнет 18-летнего возраста во время процедуры, нет необходимости назначать специального администратора.

 

В случае сомнений относительно возраста несопровождаемого несовершеннолетнего, он может быть приглашен на медицинское освидетельствование для определения его возраста.

Регистрация заявлений

 

Заявители должны лично явиться (включая несовершеннолетних, даже если они не сопровождаются) в Управление по делам иммиграции Министерства иностранных и европейских дел для регистрации своего заявления.

 

Заявители получают:

 

пояснительный документ, касающийся ходатайств о предоставлении международной защиты, включая их обязанности и обязательства. Документ составлен на языке, который, скорее всего, будет понятен заявителю;

информацию о своем праве на получение бесплатной помощи от переводчика, говорящего на языке, который, вероятно, будет понятен беженцу;

информация о праве за свой счет обратиться к адвокату, зарегистрированному в одной из коллегий адвокатов Люксембурга, или обратиться за помощью в службу юридической помощи.

 

Во время регистрации заявители получают формуляр, и назначается встреча для подачи заявления.

 

В назначенное время заявители должны представить заполненную форму и подтверждающие документы, чтобы заявление о предоставлении международной защиты могло быть рассмотрено. Данные на бланке – это личные данные заявителя и другая полезная информация.

 

Заявители также должны передать в обмен на расписку документы, удостоверяющие личность, и другие полезные документы, которые будут возвращены после получения одного из статусов. Документы, удостоверяющие личность, не возвращаются, если заявителю предоставлен статус беженца. Если в предоставлении статуса отказано, все документы возвращаются заявителю при его/ее высылке из Люксембурга.

 

За исключением документов, удостоверяющих личность, любой документ, представленный на языке, отличном от немецкого, английского или французского, должен сопровождаться переводом на один из этих трех языков.

 

Заявитель будет сфотографирован.

 

Претенденты на международную защиту также будут опрошены сотрудником уголовной полиции, который отвечает за проверку личности и маршрута заявителя до прибытия в Люксембург. У них будут взяты отпечатки пальцев, и, если это будет сочтено необходимым, может быть проведен физический обыск.

 

Заявители также могут получить назначение на собеседование.

Выдача сертификата

 

В принципе, заявители получают сертификат (“papier rose” – “розовый документ”) через 3 дня после подачи заявления.

 

Сертификат позволяет заявителям находиться в Люксембурге, пока рассматривается их заявление о предоставлении международной защиты, а также свободно передвигаться по Люксембургу.

 

Сертификат не позволяет выезжать за границу. Исключения будут сделаны для молодых заявителей, которые участвуют в школьной поездке за границу.

 

В принципе, срок действия “розового документа” составляет один месяц с возможностью продления каждый месяц до окончания процедуры оформления. За продлением справки необходимо обратиться лично в отдел по делам беженцев (Service des réfugiés) при Управлении иммиграции не позднее дня истечения срока действия справки.

Сертификат не действителен ни как документ, удостоверяющий личность, ни как вид на жительство.

Надзор за лицами, ищущими убежище

 

После подачи заявления претендент на международную защиту встретится с социальным работником из Национальной приемной (ONA), который занимается претендентами на международную защиту и может предоставить информацию о различных видах доступной помощи.

Заявление о прибытии или выборе места жительства

 

В течение 8 дней после подачи заявления о предоставлении международной защиты заявители должны сделать заявление о прибытии в коммуну, где они поселились.

 

Они также могут выбрать место жительства по месту жительства своего представителя (своего адвоката).

 

Любое изменение места жительства в пределах одной и той же коммуны должно быть заявлено в коммуну. В случае переноса обычного места жительства в другую коммуну, заявитель должен сообщить коммуне о новом месте жительства.

Если домициль или обычное место жительства не были указаны, домицилем считается Министерство иностранных и европейских дел. В этом случае министр вывешивает в Министерстве публичное объявление сроком на 30 дней. В уведомлении должна быть указана дата его размещения и характер вручаемого документа. В нем также должно быть указано место, где документ может быть направлен заявителю.

 

Если министр не предоставит исключение, заявитель должен оставаться в стране. Однако он или она имеет право свободно передвигаться по стране во время рассмотрения его/ее заявления.

 

Заявители должны пройти медицинский осмотр в течение 6 недель после въезда в страну.

Индивидуальное собеседование

 

Заявители получают письмо по почте на свое обычное место жительства или указанное место жительства с приглашением на индивидуальное собеседование. Письмо также может быть доставлено лично.

Если место жительства или обычное место жительства не указано, то местом жительства считается Министерство иностранных и европейских дел (MAEE). В этом случае приглашение на углубленное собеседование будет вывешено в министерстве.

 

Заявители должны лично явиться в назначенный день и время с приглашением и справкой (розовым документом) в офис по делам беженцев в Управлении по делам иммиграции.

 

Неявка на назначенное собеседование может быть оправдана только медицинскими показаниями. Поэтому заявителей просят как можно скорее сообщить об этом сотруднику, проводящему собеседование, позвонив по номеру, указанному в приглашении, и предоставить медицинскую справку, выданную врачом. В случае сомнений, MAEE может запросить заключение медицинского работника, чтобы определить, подходит ли заявитель для участия в собеседовании или нет.

 

Каждый взрослый из одной семьи проходит собеседование отдельно. В исключительных случаях может присутствовать еще один член семьи.

 

Заявителям разрешается пользоваться помощью переводчика, если собеседование проводится на языке, которого они не понимают.

 

Им также может помогать адвокат.

 

Собеседование – это возможность для заявителей на международную защиту подробно объяснить причины подачи заявления, а также причины, по которым они покинули свою страну. Ответы на вопросы должны быть искренними, четкими и отражать правду.

 

Заявители должны предъявить, если они у них есть, оригиналы документов или другие бумаги, которые могут подтвердить их личность, гражданство, семейное положение, причину обращения и т.д.

Любой документ, представленный на языке, отличном от немецкого, английского или французского, должен сопровождаться переводом на один из этих трех языков.

 

Заявления, сделанные во время собеседования, записываются для составления письменного, подробного и фактического отчета. Заявители имеют право ознакомиться с отчетом или получить его вслух, а также попросить внести изменения, которые будут отмечены в конце отчета.

 

Заявителю предлагается подписать отчет, как и всем другим лицам, присутствовавшим на собеседовании. Если заявитель отказывается подписать отчет, необходимо указать причину отказа.

 

В случае аудио- или видеозаписи интервью подпись не требуется. Затем заявители могут представить свои комментарии в письменном виде в течение 8 дней после представления отчета.

 

Собеседования носят конфиденциальный характер.

 

Если остаются какие-либо сомнения относительно происхождения заявителя, может быть проведена лингвистическая экспертиза. Таким же образом, если заявитель утверждает, что он является жертвой преследования или серьезного вреда телу или здоровью, может быть проведено медицинское освидетельствование.

Приемлемость заявления

 

Заявление не будет рассматриваться, если Министерство иностранных и европейских дел объявит себя некомпетентным для рассмотрения заявления о предоставлении международной защиты, а именно в случае, если другая страна является компетентной в данном вопросе. В этом случае заявитель будет передан в эту страну.

 

Заявления объявляются неприемлемыми, если:

 

заявители являются гражданами ЕС; или

международная защита уже была предоставлена другим государством-членом ЕС; или

существует первая страна убежища, т.е. другая страна, которая уже предоставила статус беженца и где:

указанная защита все еще действительна; или

достаточная защита будет предоставлена при условии приема в данной стране; или

если существует другая безопасная страна, где заявитель мог бы поселиться и где его жизни и свободе не угрожает опасность по причинам расы, религии, национальности, принадлежности к определенной социальной группе, политических убеждений и т.д.; или

заявление является последующим заявлением, которое не содержит никаких новых элементов или фактов, позволяющих определить, соблюдены ли условия предоставления международной защиты; или

заявление подано лично, когда заявитель уже дал согласие на то, чтобы другое лицо подало заявление от его имени.

 

О решениях о неприемлемости сообщается в письменном виде. Возможность обжалования этих решений указывается в решении.

Обработка заявления

 

Если заявление признано приемлемым, Министерство иностранных и европейских дел (MAEE) проводит углубленное собеседование.

 

После рассмотрения заявления статус беженца или статус дополнительной защиты может быть предоставлен или заявление может быть отклонено.

 

Заявления могут быть рассмотрены при условии, что заявитель пройдет медицинское обследование на предмет наличия признаков преследования или серьезного вреда телу или здоровью в прошлом.

Обычная процедура

 

Заявители получают ответ в течение 6 месяцев после подачи заявления.

 

Если срок рассмотрения заявления превышает 6 месяцев (фактические или сложные судебные вопросы, большое количество одновременных заявлений о предоставлении международной защиты, невыполнение заявителем своих обязательств), заявителя информируют о причинах задержки. При желании заявители имеют право запросить причины задержки и оценку срока рассмотрения заявления.

 

Срок рассмотрения заявлений не может превышать в общей сложности 21 месяц.

Ускоренная процедура

 

Заявления могут быть рассмотрены по ускоренной процедуре в следующих случаях:

 

заявитель представил только факты, которые не имеют значения в вопросах статуса международной защиты;

заявитель прибыл из безопасной страны;

заявитель предоставил ложную информацию или документы, или скрыл документы, касающиеся его личности или гражданства, с целью повлиять на решение;

существует вероятность того, что заявитель умышленно уничтожил свое удостоверение личности или проездные документы, так что его личность или гражданство не могут быть установлены;

заявления заявителя непоследовательны, противоречивы, ложны или маловероятны и противоречат должным образом проверенной информации о стране происхождения;

заявитель подал последующее заявление, которое не является приемлемым;

заявитель подал заявление с целью отсрочить или предотвратить решение о высылке в отношении него;

заявитель въехал в страну или незаконно продлил срок пребывания и без уважительной причины не представился в Министерство иностранных и европейских дел или не обратился за международной защитой сразу после въезда в страну;

заявитель отказывается пройти процедуру дактилоскопии;

заявитель может представлять угрозу общественному порядку в Люксембурге.

 

Время ответа Министерства по ускоренной процедуре обычно составляет 2 месяца со дня, когда заявитель считается соответствующим одному из вышеперечисленных условий.

Положительный ответ

 

Заявители, которым предоставляется международная защита, получают статус беженца или дополнительную защиту.

 

Уведомление о предоставлении статуса обычно вручается лично в руки.

 

Уведомление о предоставлении одного из статусов также может быть сделано в письменной форме заказным письмом. Решение считается уведомленным через 3 дня после того, как оно было отправлено заказным письмом.

 

В случае отсутствия обычного места жительства или избранного домициля, решение будет публично опубликовано в MAEE.

 

После этого заявители пользуются правами, предоставляемыми международной защитой.

Отклонение ходатайства

 

Если ходатайство о предоставлении международной защиты было отклонено, заявителю сообщается об этом в письменном виде заказным письмом. Решение считается уведомленным через 3 дня после его отправки заказным письмом.

 

В случае отсутствия обычного места жительства или избранного домициля, решение будет публично опубликовано в MAEE.

 

Уведомление о решении также может быть вручено лично в руки.

 

Возможность обжалования этих решений указывается в уведомлении.

Отклонение ходатайства о предоставлении международной защиты приравнивается к решению о высылке.

Отзыв ходатайства

 

Заявление о предоставлении международной защиты может быть отозвано косвенно или явно.

 

Заявление неявно отзывается, если заявитель:

 

не предоставил необходимую информацию или не явился на рассмотрение; или

бежал или покинул место своего задержания или указанное место жительства без разрешения и без уведомления Министерства иностранных и европейских дел (МИДЕИ) в течение 24 часов, или не выполнил обязательство явиться в МИДЕИ в течение месяца.

 

Заявление однозначно отзывается, если заявитель сделал это в письменной форме.

 

Отзыв заявления влечет за собой потерю статуса международной защиты, и заявители будут переданы обратно в страну происхождения.

Разрешение на временное проживание

 

Во время рассмотрения ходатайства заявители на международную защиту могут, при определенных условиях, получить временное разрешение на работу, позволяющее им заниматься профессиональной деятельностью.

Апелляция

Обычная процедура

 

В рамках обычной процедуры можно подать апелляцию в административный суд на отказ в предоставлении международной защиты и на уведомление о необходимости покинуть страну.

 

Одна апелляция должна охватывать как решение, так и уведомление; если поданы две разные апелляции, они будут считаться неприемлемыми. Срок подачи апелляции составляет один месяц с момента уведомления о принятом решении.

 

Крайний срок подачи апелляции и апелляция, поданная в течение этого срока, будут иметь приостанавливающий эффект.

 

Апелляция на решение, вынесенное административным трибуналом, может быть подана в течение одного месяца с момента уведомления о решении. Срок подачи апелляции и апелляция, поданная в установленный срок, имеют приостанавливающее действие.

 

Обратите внимание, что обжалование решения министерства об отказе в удовлетворении заявления не приостанавливает течение срока подачи апелляции.

 

Апелляция в административный суд должна быть подана через адвоката.

Ускоренная процедура

 

В случае ускоренной процедуры апелляция может быть подана в административный суд в течение 15 дней после уведомления о принятом решении:

 

на решение об использовании данной процедуры;

на решение об отказе в предоставлении международной защиты;

на уведомление о необходимости покинуть страну.

 

Все три апелляции должны быть поданы в одном заявлении под страхом неприемлемости. Решение председателя Палаты или судьи, заменяющего его/ее, не может быть обжаловано.

 

Неофициальные апелляции на решение министерства, принятое в связи с ускоренной процедурой, не приостанавливают срок подачи апелляции.

 

Апелляции в административный суд должны подаваться через адвоката.

Отсутствие юрисдикции Люксембурга и неприемлемость заявления

 

Можно подать апелляцию в административный суд на решения об отсутствии компетенции Люксембурга или неприемлемости заявления о предоставлении международной защиты в течение 15 дней после уведомления о решении. Решения, принятые административным трибуналом, не могут быть обжалованы.

Апелляции в административный суд должны быть поданы через адвоката.

Возвращение в страну происхождения

 

Отказ в предоставлении международной защиты и исчерпание апелляций означают окончание процедуры подачи заявления о предоставлении международной защиты.

 

Сертификат для заявителей на международную защиту аннулируется, и заявителю назначается встреча с сотрудником Министерства иностранных и европейских дел (MAEE), который объяснит процесс возвращения в страну происхождения.

 

Заявителям предлагается вернуться в страну происхождения в течение 30 дней со дня окончательного отказа.

Добровольное возвращение

 

Лица, решившие вернуться добровольно, должны сообщить об этом в MAEE в течение 30-дневного срока.

 

В некоторых случаях (дети в школе, другие социальные и семейные связи и т.д.) срок добровольного возвращения может быть продлен.

 

Лица, добровольно решившие покинуть страну, могут воспользоваться специальной помощью для организации своего путешествия и расселения в стране происхождения или в другой стране, которая решила их принять. Лица из третьих стран, имеющие безвизовый паспорт, не могут воспользоваться указанной помощью.

Документы, удостоверяющие личность, выданные в начале процедуры подачи заявления о предоставлении международной защиты, возвращаются заявителю при выезде из Люксембурга.

Вынужденное возвращение

 

Заявители, не покинувшие страну в течение 30 дней со дня принятия окончательного решения об отказе (после исчерпания возможности обжалования), могут быть вывезены силой с территории страны в сопровождении сотрудников правоохранительных органов. В этом случае заявитель может быть помещен в закрытое учреждение.

 

В финансовой помощи на возвращение отказывается и выносится постановление о запрете на въезд и пребывание в Шенгенской зоне. Запрет может быть на срок до 5 лет.

https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2015/12/18/n15/consolide/20210705

Law of 18 December 2015

1. on international protection and temporary protection;
2. amending

– the amended law of 10 August 1991 on the profession of lawyer,

– the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration,

– the law of 28 May 2009 on the detention centre;

3. repealing the amended Act of 5 May 2006 on the right of asylum and complementary forms of protection…

 

Effective date: 05/07/2021

 

Chapter 1. – Purpose, scope, definitions and competence

Art. 1.

The purpose of this law is to establish the procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection, the standards relating to the conditions that must be met by third-country nationals or stateless persons in order to benefit from international protection, a uniform status for refugees and persons eligible for subsidiary protection and the content of this protection.

It applies to all applications for international protection submitted on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, including at the border and in transit zones. It does not apply to applications for diplomatic or territorial asylum lodged with a representation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Its purpose is also to grant temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who cannot return to their country of origin.

 

Art. 2.

For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall apply

(a) Geneva Convention: the Convention of 28 July 1951 relating to the Status of Refugees, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967

(b) “application for international protection” means an application for protection made by a third country national or a stateless person, which may be understood as seeking refugee status or subsidiary protection status, where the applicant is not explicitly seeking another type of protection outside the scope of this Act and which may be the subject of a separate application

(c) Applicant: any third country national or stateless person who has submitted an application for international protection on which a final decision has not yet been taken;

(d) “applicant requiring special procedural safeguards” means an applicant whose ability to enjoy the rights and comply with the obligations under this Act is limited due to individual circumstances

(e) Final decision: any decision determining whether the third country national or stateless person is granted refugee or subsidiary protection status and which is no longer subject to appeal in accordance with this Act, whether or not such appeal has the effect of allowing an applicant to remain in the territory pending its outcome

(f) refugee: Any third country national or stateless person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to that country, (f) any person who, owing to fear, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country, or any stateless person who, being outside the country of his or her former habitual residence for the above-mentioned reasons, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it, and who does not fall within the scope of Article 45

(g) a person eligible for subsidiary protection: any third country national or stateless person who does not qualify as a refugee but in respect of whom there are substantial grounds for believing that the person concerned, if returned to his or her country of origin or, in the case of a stateless person, to the country of former habitual residence, would face a real risk of being subjected to the adverse effects of the removal of his or her family members or other persons, would face a real risk of suffering serious harm as defined in Article 48, Article 50 (1) and (2) not being applicable to that person, and that person being unable or, in view of that risk, unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country;

(h) international protection means refugee status and subsidiary protection status;

(i) refugee status: the recognition of a third country national or a stateless person as a refugee;

(j) Subsidiary protection status: the recognition of a third country national or a stateless person as a person eligible for subsidiary protection;

(k) family members: insofar as the family was already established in the country of origin, the following members of the family of the beneficiary of international protection who are present in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg because of the application for international protection

– the spouse of the beneficiary of international protection status or his/her unmarried partner engaged in a community of life recognised by the country of origin of one of the partners

– the minor children of the couple referred to in the first indent or of the beneficiary of international protection provided that they are unmarried, irrespective of whether they are legitimate, born out of wedlock or adopted

– the father or mother of the beneficiary of international protection or any other adult who is responsible for him or her under the law in force in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where the beneficiary is a minor and unmarried;

(l) minor: a third-country national or a stateless person under the age of 18

(m) Unaccompanied minor: a minor who enters the territory without being accompanied by an adult who is responsible for him or her under the law in force in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and as long as he or she is not effectively taken into the care of such a person; this expression also covers a minor who has been left alone after entering the territory

(n) withdrawal of international protection: the decision by which the Minister responsible for asylum revokes, refuses to renew or terminates a person’s refugee status or subsidiary protection status

(o) Remain in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg: the fact of remaining on the territory, including at the border or in a transit zone of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where the application for international protection has been lodged or is being examined

(p) “country of origin” means the country or countries of nationality of the applicant or, if he/she is stateless, the country where he/she had his/her habitual residence

(q) return decision: the negative decision of the Minister declaring the stay illegal and imposing an order to leave the territory

(r) temporary protection means a procedure of an exceptional nature ensuring, in the event of a mass influx or imminent mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who cannot return to their country of origin, immediate and temporary protection for those persons, in particular if there is also a risk that the asylum system will not be able to deal with the influx without causing effects contrary to its proper functioning, in the interests of the persons concerned and of other persons seeking protection

(s) displaced persons: third country nationals or stateless persons who have had to leave their country or region of origin or have been evacuated, in particular following an appeal by international organisations, whose return in safe and sustainable conditions is impossible due to the situation in that country, and who may possibly fall within the scope of Article 1A of the Geneva Convention or other international or national instruments of international protection, and in particular, persons who have fled areas of armed conflict or endemic violence and persons who have been victims of systematic or widespread violations of human rights or are under serious threat thereof;

(t) mass influx: the arrival in the European Union of a significant number of displaced persons from a particular country or geographical area, whether their arrival in the European Union is spontaneous or organised, for example as part of an evacuation programme.

 

Art. 3.

(1)The Minister responsible for asylum, hereinafter referred to as “the Minister”, shall be the determining authority for all procedures, responsible for carrying out an appropriate examination of applications in accordance with the provisions of this Act and competent to decide in the first instance on such applications.

(2)The Minister’s officials shall receive relevant training in accordance with EU Regulation No 439/2010 of 19 May 2010 establishing a European Asylum Support Office.

Officers interviewing applicants under this Act shall also have a general knowledge of issues that could affect the ability of applicants to be interviewed, in particular of evidence that the applicant may have been subjected to torture in the past.

The application of an unaccompanied minor shall be processed by an officer with the necessary knowledge of the special needs of minors.

(3)Applications for international protection submitted to the authorities of another Member State carrying out border or immigration controls are processed by the Minister if the application is submitted on Luxembourg territory.

 

Chapter 2. – Procedure for granting and withdrawing an application for international protection

 

Section 1. -Basic principles and fundamental guarantees

 

Art. 4.

(1)When a person submits an application for international protection to the Minister, registration shall take place no later than three working days after the application is submitted. If the application for international protection is submitted to an officer of the Airport Control Service, the Grand-Ducal Police, the detention centre or the penitentiary centres, the registration shall take place no later than six working days after the application is submitted.

Where, due to the large number of third-country nationals or stateless persons who simultaneously apply for international protection, it is in practice very difficult to comply with the time limits laid down in the preceding paragraph, the registration period may be extended to ten working days.

(2) The officers referred to in paragraph (1) shall receive from the Minister the relevant information and training at a level necessary for the performance of their duties and responsibilities, as well as instructions, so that they can provide applicants with information on where and how the application for international protection can be made.

 

Art. 5.

(1) Any person who has reached the age of majority and has legal capacity has the right to lodge an application for international protection on his/her own behalf.

(2) An application may be made by an applicant on behalf of his dependants. In this case, the dependants who have reached the age of majority must consent to the application being made on their behalf. Consent is required at the time the application is submitted or, at the latest, at the time of the personal interview with the adult dependant. Prior to the request for consent, each adult dependant shall be informed in private of the relevant procedural consequences of making an application on his or her behalf and of his or her right to make a separate application for protection.

(3) An unemancipated minor shall have the right to submit an application for international protection through his or her parents or any other adult family member, or through an adult person exercising parental authority over him or her, or through an ad hoc administrator.

(4) An unaccompanied minor shall have the right to make an application for international protection either on his or her own behalf or through a representative provided for in Article 20. Without prejudice to Article 20, paragraph (3), the application shall be made by the representative in the presence of the minor.

The ad hoc administrator who assists the unaccompanied minor in administrative and judicial procedures relating to entry and residence on the territory in accordance with the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration, has the right to submit an application for international protection on behalf of an unaccompanied minor if, on the basis of a specific assessment of the latter’s particular situation, he or she considers that the minor may be in need of international protection.

 

Art. 6.

 

(1)After the submission of an application for international protection and its subsequent registration, the applicant shall be summoned as soon as possible to submit his/her application and that of the persons referred to in Article 5, paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)The application for international protection shall be filed with the Minister in the presence of all persons concerned.

An application for international protection shall be deemed to have been filed from the moment the applicant submits the form provided for this purpose.

If the applicant fails to file the application, he shall be presumed to have implicitly withdrawn his application or to have implicitly renounced it in accordance with section 23.

(3)The determination of the State responsible shall be made in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person.

A member of the Grand-Ducal police force will carry out all necessary checks to establish the identity and travel itinerary of the applicant. In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 concerning the establishment of Eurodac for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and concerning requests for comparison with Eurodac data by Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice, it shall take the applicant’s fingerprints, take photographs and draw up a report.

 

Article 7.

(1)Within three days of submitting an application for international protection, the applicant shall receive a document issued in his or her name attesting to his or her status as an applicant and his or her right to remain on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and to move freely there.

This right to remain on the territory does not constitute a right to a residence permit.

(2)The certificate specifies its period of validity and may be extended for as long as the applicant is authorised to stay in the territory by virtue of the provisions of Article 9 and Article 36.

The certificate shall not be issued to an applicant who is held in detention. If the holder is under house arrest, the document shall certify this fact.

 

Article 8.

 

(1)If there are indications that third-country nationals or stateless persons detained in the detention centre or present at border crossing points, including transit zones at external borders, may wish to make an application for international protection, they shall be provided with information on the possibility of doing so. To facilitate access to the asylum procedure, interpretation arrangements shall be made to the extent necessary.

(2) Organisations and persons authorised by the Minister to provide advice and guidance to applicants for international protection shall have access to persons at border crossing points, including transit zones, at the external borders, provided that they meet the conditions for access to Luxembourg airport and submit to the applicable security checks.

Restrictions on such access may only be imposed where they are objectively necessary for security, public order or the administrative management of the crossing points and provided that they do not considerably restrict access or even make it impossible.

 

Art. 9.

 

(1) Applicants shall be authorised to remain in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, solely for the purposes of the procedure, until a decision has been taken by the Minister.

(2)As an exception to paragraph (1), the right to remain is waived

(a) where a person may be surrendered to or extradited, as the case may be, to either another Member State of the European Union by virtue of obligations arising from a European arrest warrant or for other reasons, or to a third country or to an international criminal court or tribunal;

(b) where a person has made a subsequent initial application which is considered inadmissible, only in order to delay or prevent the execution of a decision which would result in his or her imminent removal from the territory;

(c) where a person makes another subsequent application for international protection following the adoption of a final decision declaring a first subsequent application inadmissible or following a final decision rejecting that application as unfounded.

 

(3) Before extraditing an applicant to a third country, the Minister shall ensure that the extradition decision or the return decision will not result in direct or indirect refoulement in violation of international obligations and obligations towards the European Union.

 

Article 10.

(1)The examination of a request for international protection shall not be refused or excluded solely on the grounds that the request was not submitted promptly.

 

(2)In considering an application for international protection, the Minister shall first determine whether the applicant qualifies for refugee status and, if not, whether the applicant qualifies for subsidiary protection.

(3)The Minister shall ensure that decisions on applications for international protection are taken after an appropriate examination. To this end, the Minister shall ensure that:

(a) applications are examined and decisions are taken individually, objectively and impartially

(b) accurate and up-to-date information is obtained from various sources, such as the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as from international organisations competent in the field of human rights, on the general situation in the applicants’ countries of origin and, where applicable, in the countries through which the applicants have transited, and that staff responsible for examining applications and taking decisions have access to this information

(c) the officials responsible for examining applications and taking decisions are familiar with the applicable standards of asylum and refugee law

(d) officers responsible for examining applications and making decisions have the opportunity to seek expert advice, where appropriate, on particular matters such as medical, cultural, religious, child-related or gender issues.

 

(4) The courts to which an appeal is made under this Act shall have access, through the Minister, the applicant or otherwise, to the general information referred to in paragraph 3(b) necessary for the performance of their task.

(5) With the exception of identity documents, any document submitted to the Minister in a language other than German, French or English must be accompanied by a translation into one of these languages in order to be taken into account in the examination of the application for international protection.

 

Art. 11.

(1) The applicant shall be informed in a language he understands or may reasonably be supposed to understand of the procedure to be followed and of his rights and obligations during the procedure, as well as of the possible consequences of non-compliance with his obligations or refusal to cooperate with the Minister. The applicant shall be informed of the timetable, of the means available to him for fulfilling the obligation to submit the information referred to in Article 37(2) and of the consequences of explicit or implicit withdrawal of the application. This information shall be provided to the applicant in time to enable him to exercise the rights and fulfil the obligations arising from his status as an applicant.

(2) The applicant shall be provided, where necessary, with the services of an interpreter free of charge for the purpose of presenting his/her case during the examination procedure and during the appeal procedures.

 

The services of an interpreter shall be provided when the applicant is questioned in the manner referred to in Articles 13, 14 and 15 and when adequate communication cannot be ensured without such services.

(3) The applicant shall have the right to communicate with the organisations referred to in Article 24. Without prejudice to Article 17, he or she shall have the right to consult a lawyer on matters relating to his or her application for international protection at his or her own expense at all stages of the procedure, including following a negative decision.

(4)The applicant and, where appropriate, his or her lawyer shall have access to the information referred to in Article 10(3)(b) and to the information provided by the experts referred to in Article 10(3)(d), where the Minister has taken this information into account in reaching a decision on their application.

 

Article 12.

(1) The applicant shall be obliged to cooperate with the Minister in order to establish his identity and the other elements referred to in section 37(2). The applicant shall hand over his/her identity documents and any other documents relevant to the examination of the application for international protection as quickly as possible. These documents shall be kept at the office of the Minister against receipt.

The documents are returned to the applicant if refugee status or subsidiary protection status is granted. If refugee status and subsidiary protection status are refused, they are returned to the applicant when he is removed from the territory. As an exception to the above, travel and identity documents shall not be returned to beneficiaries of refugee status.

(2) The applicant is obliged to respond personally to the Minister’s summonses. The Minister’s officials may record oral statements made by the applicant, provided that the applicant has been informed of this beforehand.

 

The applicant may be subjected to a language test. Photographs may be taken.

(3)The applicant is obliged to make a declaration of arrival to the municipality in which he/she establishes his/her habitual residence within eight days of submitting his/her application for international protection. Any change of residence within the municipality or the transfer of the habitual residence to another municipality must be declared to the municipality of the new residence.

For the purposes of the procedure, the applicant may elect an address for service with his or her representative and communicate the elected address to the Minister. Any change in the address for service must be communicated to the Minister against receipt.

The applicant must agree to receive all communications at his usual place of residence or, where appropriate, at the address for service. Without prejudice to personal notification, any notification shall be deemed to have been validly made three days after dispatch by registered post either at the place of habitual residence or at the elected domicile.

 

In the absence of a known habitual residence or an address for service, the applicant is deemed to have elected an address for service at the Ministry and the Minister shall effect notification by public posting. To this end, a notice is posted at the Ministry for a period of thirty days. The posting of the notice by the Minister is recorded by the judicial police service. The notice shall state the date of posting and the nature of the act to be notified. It shall also indicate the place where the applicant may have the document delivered. Service is deemed to have been validly made thirty days after the first day of public posting.

(4)Unless an exception is granted by the Minister, the applicant is obliged to remain in the territory.

 

(5)The criminal investigation department may, if necessary, conduct a search of the applicant’s body and a search of the objects carried by the applicant. Without prejudice to any search carried out for security reasons, the search of the applicant’s person shall be carried out by a person of the same sex, in full respect of the principles of human dignity and physical and psychological integrity. Any object useful for the examination of the application may be withheld against receipt.

 

Art. 13.

(1) Before the Minister takes a decision on the admissibility of an application for international protection, the applicant shall be allowed to present his/her views on the application of the grounds referred to in Article 28, paragraph (2) to his/her particular situation. To this end, and without prejudice to the individual interview provided for in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, a personal interview on the admissibility of the application shall be conducted by an official of the Minister, with the exception provided for in Article 32 in the case of a subsequent application.

(2)The applicant is entitled to a personal interview on the substance of the application for international protection with an officer of the Minister, without prejudice to sections 28 and 32.

The applicant shall attend the interview and answer in person any questions put to him or her by the Minister’s officer, who shall conduct the interview. He may be accompanied by a lawyer who, at the end of the interview, is given the opportunity to make observations.

The absence of a lawyer does not prevent the Minister’s officers from conducting a personal interview with the applicant, without prejudice to section 20.

(3)Where a person has made an application for international protection on behalf of his or her dependants, each adult dependant shall be given an opportunity to participate in a personal interview.

(4)The personal interview on the substance of the application may be dispensed with where

(a) the Minister is able to make a positive refugee status decision on the basis of the evidence available; or

(b) the Minister is of the opinion that the applicant is not able or willing to be interviewed due to enduring circumstances beyond the applicant’s control. In case of doubt, the Minister shall consult a health professional to determine whether the circumstances which make the applicant unfit or unable to participate in an interview are temporary or permanent.

 

(5)The absence of a personal interview does not prevent the Minister from making a decision on an application for international protection. Notwithstanding section 23(2), when deciding on an application for international protection, the Minister may take into account the fact that the applicant did not appear for the personal interview, unless he or she had good reasons for not appearing.

Where no personal interview is conducted pursuant to paragraph (4)(b), reasonable efforts shall be made to enable the applicant or, where appropriate, the dependant to provide further information. In this case, the absence of a personal interview shall not adversely affect the Minister’s decision.

 

Art. 14.

(1)The interview shall normally take place without the presence of family members, unless the Minister considers that the presence of other family members is necessary for an adequate examination.

(2)The interview shall take place under conditions which adequately ensure confidentiality.

(3)The Minister shall ensure that the interview is conducted in a manner that allows the applicant to present the full reasons for the application.

To this end, the Minister shall

(a) ensure that the person conducting the interview is competent to take into account the personal and general circumstances surrounding the application, including the applicant’s cultural background, gender or sexual orientation, gender identity or vulnerability;

(b) where possible, arrange for the interview with the applicant to be conducted by a person of the same sex if the applicant so requests, unless the Minister has reason to believe that the request is based on grounds that are not related to difficulties on the part of the applicant in presenting the full reasons for the application

(c) select an interpreter who is able to ensure appropriate communication between the applicant and the person conducting the interview. Communication shall be in the language for which the applicant has expressed a preference unless there is another language which the applicant understands and in which he or she is able to communicate clearly. Wherever possible, an interpreter of the same sex shall be provided to the applicant if he or she so requests, unless the Minister has reason to believe that the request is based on grounds that are not related to difficulties on the part of the applicant in presenting the full reasons for the application;

(d) ensure that the person conducting the interview on the substance of the application for international protection does not wear a military or law enforcement uniform;

(e) ensure that interviews with minors are conducted in a child-friendly manner by an officer with the necessary knowledge of the special needs of minors.

 

Art. 15.

 

(1)During the personal interview on the merits of an application for international protection, the Minister shall ensure that the applicant is given a concrete opportunity to present the evidence necessary to substantiate his/her application as fully as possible, in accordance with Article 37. This includes the opportunity to provide an explanation of any missing material and any inconsistencies or contradictions in the applicant’s statements.

(2)The Minister shall ensure that a detailed and factual report is made of each interview, containing all the essential elements of the application. At the end of the interview, the applicant shall be given the opportunity to comment or clarify either orally or in writing any translation errors or misunderstandings in the report.

(3) The applicant is asked to confirm that the content of the report correctly reflects the interview. If this confirmation is refused, the reasons for the refusal shall be recorded in the applicant’s file. Such a refusal shall not prevent the Minister from taking a decision on the application.

(4) If the personal interview with the applicant is recorded by audio or audiovisual means, a transcript of the recording shall be placed in the applicant’s file.

In this case, the applicant is not obliged to confirm the content of the transcript, but may submit written comments or clarifications within eight days of the transcript being made.

 

Art. 16.

(1) If the Minister considers it appropriate to assess an application for international protection in accordance with Article 37 of the Act, he shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the applicant, with his consent, undergoes a medical examination for signs of past persecution or serious harm. The medical examination shall be carried out at the expense of the State by a doctor appointed by the Minister and the results shall be communicated to the Minister as soon as possible. In identifying and documenting signs of torture or other serious forms of physical or psychological violence, including sexual violence, the medical examination shall take into account the “Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” established by the 1999 Istanbul Protocol.

The fact that an applicant refuses to undergo this medical examination does not prevent the Minister from taking a decision on the application for international protection.

(2)If no medical examination is carried out in accordance with subsection (1), the applicant shall be informed that he or she may, on his or her own initiative and at his or her own expense, take the necessary steps to undergo a medical examination for signs of past persecution or serious harm.

 

(3)The results of the medical examinations referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be assessed by the Minister together with the other elements of the application.

 

Art. 17.

 

(1)In the proceedings referred to in Chapter 2, Section 2 and in the appeal proceedings referred to in Chapter 2, Section 4, as well as in the appeals against detention referred to in Article 22, paragraph (6), the applicant shall be entitled to be assisted on request, and in the appeal proceedings to be represented (1) The applicant shall have the right to be represented by a lawyer appointed by the President of the Bar under the conditions and in the manner provided for in Article 37-1 of the amended Act of 10 August 1991 on the legal profession, unless the applicant’s appeal is considered to have no tangible prospects of success.

(2) Free legal assistance and representation shall be granted only in the context of the proceedings referred to in paragraph (1), to the exclusion of any other judicial or administrative appeal.

Free legal assistance and representation shall not be granted to an applicant who is no longer in the territory pursuant to Article 9, paragraph (2), points b) and c).

 

Article 18.

The Minister shall ensure that the lawyer who assists and represents the applicant has access to the information in the applicant’s file on the basis of which a decision is or will be taken.

 

Where the disclosure of information or its sources would jeopardise national security, the security of the organisations or persons who provided the information or that of the persons to whom it relates, or where it would be prejudicial to the investigation of an application for international protection or to international relations, access to such information or sources shall be reserved for the courts to which an appeal is made. Nevertheless, in order to preserve the rights of defence of the applicant, the substance of the information, insofar as it is relevant to the examination of the application or the decision to withdraw international protection, shall be communicated to the lawyer in a manner which takes into account the necessary confidentiality.

 

Art. 19.

(1)Following the submission of an application for international protection, the Minister shall be responsible for carrying out, within a reasonable period of time and before a decision is taken in the first instance, an assessment of the special procedural safeguards that may be necessary for certain applicants on account of, inter alia, their age, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, disability, serious illness, mental disorder, or the consequences of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence. This assessment may also be carried out by the Office luxembourgeois de l’accueil et de l’intégration (OLAI) in the context of the examination of the applicant’s vulnerability in order to determine any special reception needs. The information gathered concerning special procedural guarantees is forwarded by the OLAI, with the applicant’s consent, to the Minister.

 

(2)In assessing special procedural safeguards, the Minister may seek advice from a health professional as referred to in section 16 or from another expert.

 

(3)Where an applicant has been identified as an applicant requiring special procedural safeguards, he or she shall be given adequate support, including sufficient time, to create the conditions for the applicant to have effective access to the procedures and to be able to present the evidence necessary to support his or her application. If under the accelerated procedure referred to in Article 27 such adequate support cannot be provided to an applicant in need of special procedural safeguards, and in particular to an applicant in need of special procedural safeguards because he or she is a victim of torture, rape or another serious form of psychological, physical or sexual violence, that procedure shall not be applied.

(4) The need for special procedural safeguards shall also be taken into account where such a need arises at a later stage of the procedure, without necessarily having to start the procedure again.

 

Article 20.

(1)In order to guarantee the best interests of the child, the unaccompanied minor shall be appointed, as soon as possible, a representative, namely a person or organisation designated by the family court as an ad hoc administrator to assist and represent him or her during the proceedings relating to his or her application for international protection and, where appropriate, to perform legal acts on his or her behalf, and shall be informed thereof immediately. Where an organisation is appointed as representative, it shall appoint a person to carry out the obligations of representation in relation to the unaccompanied minor.

(2) The ad hoc administrator shall have the opportunity to inform the unaccompanied minor about the meaning and possible consequences of the personal interview and, where appropriate, how to prepare for it. The ad hoc administrator or the lawyer shall be present at the interview and shall be allowed to ask questions or make comments within the framework set by the interviewing officer. The unaccompanied minor must be personally present at the interview even if the ad hoc administrator or lawyer is present.

(3)The Minister may refrain from appointing an ad hoc administrator to an unaccompanied minor who is likely to reach the age of eighteen before a decision is taken by the Minister. In this case, the unaccompanied minor may make the application on his or her own behalf.

(4)The Minister may order medical examinations to determine the age of the unaccompanied minor where he or she has doubts about the age of the unaccompanied minor after having taken note of general statements or any other relevant information.

If doubts about the age of the applicant persist thereafter, it shall be presumed that the applicant is a minor.

 

(5)Where the Minister causes medical examinations to be carried out, he shall ensure that:

(a) the unaccompanied minor is informed, prior to the examination of his or her application for international protection and in a language he or she understands, or may reasonably be presumed to understand, of the possibility that he or she may have to undergo a medical examination to determine his or her age. This shall include information on the method of examination and the possible consequences of the results of the medical examination for the examination of the application for international protection, as well as on the consequences of the unaccompanied minor’s refusal to undergo such a medical examination

(b) the unaccompanied minor or his or her representative consents to a medical examination to determine the age of the minor concerned

(c) the decision to reject the application for international protection of an unaccompanied minor who has refused to undergo a medical examination is not based exclusively on that refusal.

The fact that an unaccompanied minor has refused to undergo a medical examination does not prevent the Minister from deciding on the application for international protection.

 

Art. 21.

(1)Taking into account the best interests of the child, an unaccompanied minor shall be subject to an accelerated procedure in accordance with Article 27 only

(a) he/she originates from a country that fulfils the criteria to be considered as a safe country of origin within the meaning of Article 30; or

(b) he or she has made a subsequent application for international protection which is not inadmissible under Article 32; or

(c) there are serious reasons for considering that he or she constitutes a danger to national security or public order, or has been the subject of an enforced removal order on serious grounds of national security or public order.

(2) The application of an unaccompanied minor may be considered inadmissible in accordance with Article 28(2)(c) if a country which is not a Member State is considered a safe third country for the applicant under Article 31, provided that the best interests of the minor so require.

 

Article 22.

(1) Detention means any measure of isolation of an applicant in a specific place where the applicant is deprived of his/her freedom of movement.

Detention is carried out in the Detention Centre established by the Detention Centre Act of 28 May 2009.

Minors may only be detained as a measure of last resort and after it has been established that other less coercive measures cannot be applied effectively. Such detention shall be for the shortest possible period of time.

Unaccompanied minors may only be detained in exceptional circumstances.

Every effort shall be made to place minors in appropriate accommodation. The best interests of the child shall be taken into account.

 

(2)An applicant may only be detained

(a) to establish or verify his or her identity or nationality;

(b) to determine the elements on which the application for international protection is based which could not be obtained without detention, in particular where there is a risk that the applicant may abscond;

(c) where the protection of national security or public order so requires;

(d) in accordance with Article 28 of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person, and where there is a risk of absconding based on a combination of circumstances establishing that the applicant intends to evade the authorities for the sole purpose of obstructing a removal order

(e) where the applicant is detained in the context of a return procedure pursuant to Article 120 of the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration for the purpose of preparing the return and carrying out the removal and where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant has lodged the application for international protection for the sole purpose of delaying or preventing the enforcement of the return decision when he or she has already had the opportunity to access the asylum procedure; In this case, the period of placement under this Act shall run from the day on which the application for international protection was lodged.

 

(3)The decision to detain shall be ordered in writing by the Minister on the basis of a case-by-case assessment, where necessary and where other less coercive measures cannot be effectively applied.

Less coercive measures shall mean

(a) the obligation for the applicant to report regularly, at intervals to be determined by the Minister, to the Minister’s office or to another authority designated by the Minister, after surrendering the original passport and any document proving his or her identity in exchange for a receipt valid as proof of identity

1. b) house arrest in the places determined by the Minister, if the applicant presents effective guarantees of representation to prevent the risk of absconding; house arrest may be accompanied, if necessary, by an electronic surveillance measure which entails a ban on the applicant leaving the area determined by the Minister. The execution of the measure is monitored by means of a process that allows the presence or absence of the applicant within the said perimeter to be detected at a distance. The implementation of this process may lead to the applicant being required to wear a device incorporating a transmitter throughout the period of electronic surveillance. The process used is approved for this purpose by the Minister. Its implementation must guarantee respect for the dignity, integrity and privacy of the person. The implementation of the technical device allowing remote monitoring and the remote monitoring itself may be entrusted to a private person;
2. c) the obligation for the applicant to deposit a financial guarantee in the amount of five thousand euros to be transferred or paid either by himself or by a third party to the Caisse de consignation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law of 29 April 1999 on deposits with the State. This sum is acquired by the State in the event of the escape or removal by force of the person in whose favour the deposit was made. The guarantee shall be returned by a written decision of the Minister instructing the Consignment Fund to do so if the reasons set out in paragraph (2) are no longer applicable or in the event of voluntary return.

 

Less coercive measures shall be ordered in writing and may be applied jointly. In the event of failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Minister or if there is a risk of absconding, the measure shall be revoked and detention ordered.

 

(4)The detention order shall state the factual and legal grounds on which it is based. It shall be issued for the shortest possible period of time not exceeding three months. Without prejudice to the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on detention, the detention order may be extended by the Minister each time for a period of three months as long as the grounds set out in paragraph 2, are applicable, but the total period of detention shall not exceed twelve months.

Administrative procedures related to the grounds for detention set out in subsection (2) shall be carried out with due diligence. Delays in administrative procedures which are not attributable to the applicant shall not justify an extension of the detention period.

(5)Detained applicants shall be informed immediately in writing, in a language they understand or may reasonably be supposed to understand, of the reasons for detention and of the procedures for appealing against the detention decision.

Sections 121(1), (2) and (4) and 122 of the Act of 29 August 2008 on the Free Movement of Persons and Immigration, as amended, shall apply.

 

(6) An appeal against the decision to detain or against the decision ordering a less coercive measure as referred to in subsection (3) may be lodged with the Administrative Court, which shall act as the court of first instance. This appeal must be lodged within three months of the notification. Article 123(4) and (5) shall apply.

Where, as a result of the judicial review, the detention has ultimately been found to be unlawful, the applicant concerned shall be released immediately.

 

Art. 23.

(1) Where an applicant explicitly withdraws his/her application for international protection, the Minister shall close the examination without taking a decision and record this information in the applicant’s file.

(2) Where there are serious grounds for believing that an applicant has implicitly withdrawn or abandoned his application, the Minister shall take a decision either to close the examination of the application or to reject it if it is considered unfounded on the basis of an appropriate examination of the merits.

It shall be presumed that the applicant has implicitly withdrawn or abandoned the application for international protection, in particular where it is established that

(a) he or she has failed to respond to requests to provide information essential to his or her application under Article 37 or to appear for a personal interview under Article 13, unless the applicant proves within eight days that such absence was beyond his or her control

(b) he has absconded or left the place where he was assigned residence or was detained without authorisation without contacting the Minister within 24 hours or has failed within one month to comply with the obligation to report to the Minister, unless he shows that this was due to circumstances beyond his control.

 

(3)If, within less than nine months of the closure decision, the applicant requests that the file be reopened or submits a new application, the Minister shall reopen the file and resume consideration of the application at the stage at which it was interrupted. The decision to close the file can only be challenged by filing an application to reopen the file.

An applicant’s file may be reopened under the above paragraph only once.

After the nine-month period has elapsed, the decision to close the file shall be final and the new application shall be considered a subsequent application in accordance with section 32.

(4)Paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be without prejudice to Article 18(2), subparagraph 2 of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013.

 

Article 24.

(1)The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the members of the Luxembourg Committee on the Rights of the Child (ORK) and any organisation with an authorisation are authorised

1. a) to have access to applicants, including those in detention, at the border and in transit zones;

(b) to have access to information concerning each application for international protection, the status of the procedure and the decisions taken, subject to the consent of the applicant

(c) to give its opinion, in the discharge of its supervisory responsibilities under Article 35 of the 1951 Geneva Convention, to any competent authority with respect to each application for international protection and at any stage of the procedure.

 

(2)Accreditation may be granted to organisations which:

(a) demonstrate regular and sustained information and support activities for the benefit of applicants for international protection;

(b) meet the conditions of good repute, both in respect of the members of the organisation’s governing bodies and in respect of the natural persons responsible for these tasks

1. c) undertake to guarantee applicants the protection of their privacy and respect for their philosophical and religious convictions.

 

Art. 25.

When gathering the information necessary for the examination of a particular case, the Minister’s officials shall not disclose to the alleged perpetrators of persecution or serious harm information concerning an application for international protection, or the fact that an application has been made, in such a way as to avoid compromising the physical integrity of the applicant or his/her dependents, or the freedom and safety of family members still living in their country of origin.

Section 2. -Procedures at first instance

 

Art. 26.

(1)The Minister shall carry out an individual examination of the application for international protection in compliance with the procedural guarantees laid down in Section 1 and shall ensure that the procedure is completed as soon as possible and at the latest within six months of the application being lodged, without prejudice to an appropriate and exhaustive examination.

Where an application is subject to the procedure defined by Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, the six-month period shall begin to run from the moment when, in accordance with that Regulation, it has been determined that the examination of the application falls within the competence of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the applicant is in the territory and has been taken over by the Minister.

Where a decision cannot be taken within six months, the applicant concerned shall be informed of the delay and shall, upon request, be given information concerning the reasons for the delay and the time limit within which a decision on the application is likely to be taken.

(2)The six-month period provided for in subsection (1) may be extended for a period not exceeding nine additional months where

(a) there are complex factual or legal issues involved;

(b) because a large number of third-country nationals or stateless persons are simultaneously applying for international protection, it is very difficult in practice to conclude the procedure within the six-month period

(c) the delay can be clearly attributed to the applicant’s failure to comply with his or her obligations under Article 12.

Exceptionally, the prescribed time limits may, in duly justified circumstances, be exceeded by up to three months where this is necessary to ensure a proper and complete examination of the application for international protection.

 

(3)Without prejudice to sections 46 and 51, the conclusion of the examination procedure may be postponed where the Minister cannot reasonably be expected to make a decision within the time limits set out in subsections (1) and (2), because of an uncertain situation in the country of origin that is expected to be temporary. In such cases, the Minister shall:

(a) conduct a review of the situation in that country of origin at least every six months;

(b) inform the applicants concerned, within a reasonable time, of the reasons for the postponement.

 

In any event, the review procedure shall be concluded within a maximum of 21 months from the date of submission of the application.

(4) The Minister may give priority to deciding on applications that are clearly well-founded and on applications from vulnerable persons identified as having special reception needs or as requiring special examination procedures pursuant to Article 19 or Article 20 in the case of unaccompanied minors.

 

Article 27.

(1)Subject to sections 19 and 21, the Minister may decide on the merits of the application for international protection under an accelerated procedure in the following cases

(a) the applicant, in making the application and setting out the facts, has raised only issues that are not relevant to the examination of whether the applicant qualifies for international protection status; or

(b) the applicant is from a safe country of origin within the meaning of Article 30 of this Act; or

(c) the applicant has misled the authorities with regard to his or her identity or nationality by presenting false information or documents or by withholding relevant information or documents which could have influenced the decision in a negative way; or

(d) it is likely that the applicant, in bad faith, has destroyed or disposed of an identity or travel document that would have helped establish his or her identity or nationality; or

(e) the applicant has made manifestly inconsistent, contradictory, manifestly false or implausible statements that contradict sufficiently verified information from the country of origin, making the claim visibly unconvincing as to his or her status as a beneficiary of international protection; or

(f) the applicant has made a subsequent application for international protection which is not inadmissible under Article 32; or

(g) the applicant is making an application only in order to delay or prevent the execution of a previous or imminent decision which would result in removal; or

(h) the applicant has entered or remained illegally in the territory and, without good reason, has not presented himself/herself to the authorities or made an application for international protection as soon as possible having regard to the circumstances of his/her entry; or

1. i) the applicant refuses to comply with the requirement to give fingerprints in accordance with Article 6(3); or

(j) there are serious reasons to consider that the applicant represents a danger to national security or public order, or the applicant has been subject to a decision on forced removal on serious grounds of national security or public order under the Act of 29 August 2008 on the Free Movement of Persons and Immigration, as amended.

 

(2) The Minister shall take a decision within two months at the latest from the day on which it appears that the applicant falls under one of the cases provided for in paragraph (1) above. Without prejudice to the time limits provided for in Article 26, this time limit may be exceeded when necessary to ensure a proper and exhaustive examination of the application for international protection.

 

Art. 28.

(1)If, pursuant to Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013, the Minister considers that another Member State is responsible for examining the application, he/she shall defer a decision on the application until the decision of the responsible country on the request to take charge or take back. Where the requested Member State agrees to take charge or take back the applicant, the Minister shall notify the person concerned of the decision to transfer him/her to the Member State responsible and not to examine his/her application for international protection.

(2)In addition to the cases in which an application is not considered under subsection (1), the Minister may take a decision of inadmissibility, without checking whether the conditions for granting international protection are met, in the following cases

(a) international protection has been granted by another Member State of the European Union;

(b) a country which is not a Member State is considered as the applicant’s first country of asylum pursuant to Article 29

1. c) a country which is not a Member State is considered as a safe third country for the applicant pursuant to Article 31

(d) the application concerned is a subsequent application, in which no new elements or facts relevant to the examination of whether the applicant qualifies as a beneficiary of international protection appear or are presented by the applicant; or

(e) a dependant of the applicant submits an application after having, in accordance with Article 5, consented to have his or her case dealt with in an application made on his or her behalf, and there are no circumstances of the dependant that would justify a separate application;

(f) the applicant is a citizen of the European Union.

 

Art. 29.

A country may be considered as the first country of asylum for a particular applicant, if the applicant

(a) has been recognised as a refugee in that country and can still avail himself/herself of this protection; or

(b) otherwise enjoys sufficient protection in that country, including the benefit of the principle of non-refoulement, provided that he or she is readmitted to that country.

 

In applying the concept of first country of asylum to an applicant’s personal circumstances, the Minister shall take into account the provisions of section 31(1). The applicant shall be entitled to challenge the application of the concept of first country of asylum to his/her personal circumstances.

 

Section 30.

(1)A third country designated as a safe country of origin in accordance with subsection (2) may only be considered as such for a particular applicant after an individual examination of the application submitted by this person if the applicant is a national of this country or if the person concerned is stateless and if this is his country of former habitual residence, and if the applicant has not shown serious reasons for considering that this is not a safe country of origin because of his personal situation, taking into account the conditions required to qualify as a beneficiary of international protection.

(2)A Grand-Ducal Regulation shall designate a country as a safe country of origin if it is established that there is generally and consistently no persecution within the meaning of the Geneva Convention based on a range of information sources, including in particular information from other Member States, the AAIB, the UNHCR, the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations.

The following criteria will be taken into account for the designation of a country as a safe country of origin

(a) observance of the rights and freedoms provided for in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights or the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

(b) respect for the principle of non-refoulement as provided for in the Geneva Convention;

(c) the provision of an effective system of remedies against violations of these rights and freedoms.

The situation in third countries designated as safe countries of origin in accordance with this paragraph shall be regularly reviewed by the Minister.

 

Art. 31.

(1)The Minister may apply the safe third country concept only when he or she is satisfied that in the third country concerned the applicant will be treated in accordance with the following principles

(a) the applicant has no reason to fear for his or her life or liberty on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion

(b) there is no risk of serious harm within the meaning of Chapter 3 of this Act;

(c) the principle of non-refoulement is respected in accordance with the Geneva Convention

(d) the prohibition under international law of removal measures contrary to the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is respected

(e) the possibility exists to apply for refugee status and, if granted, to receive protection in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

(2) The application of the safe third country concept is subject to the following rules:

(a) a connecting link must exist between the applicant and the third country concerned, on the basis of which it would be reasonable for the applicant to travel to that country;

1. b) the Minister must be satisfied that the safe third country concept can be applied to a specific country or to a specific applicant. To this end, the Minister shall carry out a case-by-case examination of the safety of the country for an applicant;

(c) the applicant shall have the right to challenge the application of the safe third country concept on the grounds that the third country is not safe in his/her particular case. The applicant is furthermore entitled to challenge the existence of a link between him/herself and the third country in accordance with point (a).

(3) Where the Minister enforces a decision based solely on the safe third country concept, the Minister shall inform the applicant accordingly and provide him or her with a document informing the authorities of the third country, in the language of that country, that the application has not been considered on its merits. Where the third country does not allow the applicant to enter its territory, the applicant may initiate proceedings in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 2, Section 1 of this Act.

 

Article 32.

(1)A subsequent application is a new application for international protection submitted after a final decision has been taken on a previous application, including the case where the applicant has explicitly withdrawn the application and the case where the Minister has rejected an application following its implicit withdrawal, in accordance with Article 23, paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)Where a person who has applied for international protection makes further representations or submits a subsequent application, those further representations or the elements of the subsequent application shall be considered as part of the examination of the previous application by the Minister or, if the Minister’s decision is the subject of an appeal to a court of law for reversal, by the court to which the application is made.

(3)The Minister shall conduct a preliminary examination of the new facts or evidence submitted by the applicant in order to decide on the admissibility of the application under section 28(2)(d). The Minister may conduct the preliminary examination by limiting it to written submissions made outside the framework of an interview.

(4) If the indicated new facts or elements significantly increase the likelihood that the applicant qualifies for international protection, the examination of the application shall be continued, provided that the applicant concerned was, through no fault of his own, unable to assert them during the previous proceedings, including the litigation phase.

(5) Where a person transferred to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg under Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 has made further declarations or submitted a subsequent application in the transferring Member State, such further declarations or applications shall be examined in accordance with the foregoing provisions.

Section 3. -Withdrawal of international protection

 

Art. 33.

(1)Withdrawal of international protection means the decision by which the Minister revokes, refuses to renew or terminates the refugee or subsidiary protection status of a person in accordance with Articles 47 and 52.

(2)A review for the purpose of withdrawing the international protection of a person may be initiated by the Minister upon the appearance of evidence or new facts indicating that the validity of the person’s international protection should be reconsidered.

(3)The person concerned shall be informed in writing that the Minister is conducting a review of his or her entitlement to international protection and the reasons for the review, and shall have the right to present, in a personal interview or in writing, the reasons why international protection should not be withdrawn.

(4)The Minister shall ensure that his officers obtain accurate and up-to-date information from a variety of sources, including the AAIB and UNHCR, on the general situation in the countries of origin of the persons concerned.

(5) Where information on an individual case is collected for the purpose of the review of international protection, the Minister shall ensure that it is not obtained from the perpetrator(s) of the persecution or serious harm, which would result in the perpetrator(s) being directly informed of the fact that the person concerned is in receipt of international protection and that his or her status is being reviewed, or that it would not jeopardise the physical integrity of the person or his or her dependants, or the liberty and security of his or her family members who are still living in his or her home country.

(6) In case of a decision to withdraw international protection, Articles 17 and 24 shall apply.

Section 4. -Conditions for the Minister’s decisions and appeal procedures

 

Art. 34.

(1)The Minister’s decisions on international protection shall be communicated to the applicant in writing within a reasonable time. Reasons shall be given for any negative decision in fact and in law and the applicant shall be informed in writing of the possibilities for appeal.

Where the applicant is not assisted or represented by a lawyer, the applicant shall be informed of the outcome of the Minister’s decision in a language that the applicant understands or may reasonably be supposed to understand.

For the purposes of Article 5(2), and where an application is based on the same grounds, a single decision shall be adopted for all dependants, unless such action would lead to disclosure of an applicant’s particular circumstances, which could be detrimental to his or her interests, in particular in cases of persecution based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or age. In such cases, a separate decision shall be communicated to the person concerned.

 

(2)A decision of the Minister shall be deemed to be a return decision, with the exception of decisions taken pursuant to section 28(1) and (2)(d). The order to leave the country shall contain a time limit for leaving the country and the country to which the applicant is to be returned in the event of automatic enforcement. To comply with the order to leave the territory, the applicant has 30 days from the day the return order becomes final to apply for an assisted return scheme. The applicant is obliged to leave the territory without delay from the day the return decision becomes final if his or her behaviour constitutes a danger to public order, public safety or national security.

If necessary, the Minister may grant a period of voluntary departure longer than 30 days, taking into account the circumstances of each case, such as the length of stay, the existence of school children and other family and social ties.

Articles 103, 111(3)(c), 112, 116, 117, 118 and 120 to 132 of the amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration shall apply.

By way of exception to the above, no time limit shall be granted to an applicant who has already been served with a return decision pursuant to Article 111 of the aforementioned Act of 29 August 2008.

(3) Appeals for reconsideration do not interrupt the time limits for appeal provided for in Article 35.

 

Art. 35.

(1) An appeal for review shall be lodged with the administrative court against decisions to refuse or withdraw international protection and against the order to leave the territory. The two appeals must be lodged in a single application, failing which the separate appeal shall be inadmissible. The appeal must be lodged within one month of the notification. By way of derogation from the legislation on proceedings before the administrative courts, there may not be more than one statement of case from each party, including the application. The statement of defence must be submitted within two months of service of the application.

An appeal for reversal is available before the administrative court against the closure decisions provided for in Article 23 and against the order to leave the territory. The two appeals must be lodged in a single introductory application, failing which the separate appeal is inadmissible. The appeal must be lodged within one month of the date on which the decision to close the procedure becomes final. By way of derogation from the legislation on proceedings before the administrative courts, there may not be more than one statement of case from each party, including the statement of claim. The statement in response must be provided within two months of the service of the application.

Against the decision of the administrative tribunal, an appeal may be lodged with the administrative court.

The appeal must be lodged within one month of the notification by the clerk’s office. By way of derogation from the legislation on proceedings before the administrative courts, there may not be more than one statement of case from each party, including the appeal petition.

(2) An appeal to the administrative court for reversal of the decision of the Minister to decide on the merits of the application for international protection under an accelerated procedure and the decision to refuse the application for international protection taken under this procedure, as well as the order to leave the territory, is available. The appeal against these three decisions must be the subject of a single introductory application, failing which the separate appeal is inadmissible. It must be lodged within fifteen days of notification. The President of the Chamber or the judge replacing him or her shall give a decision within one month of the lodging of the application. This time limit is suspended between 16 July and 15 September, without prejudice to the judge’s right to give a ruling within a shorter period. There may be no more than one pleading from each party, including the originating application. The decision of the President of the Chamber or the judge replacing him or her may not be appealed.

If the President of the Chamber or the judge replacing him or her considers that the appeal is manifestly unfounded, he or she shall dismiss the applicant’s application for international protection. If, on the other hand, he considers that the appeal is not manifestly unfounded, he refers the case back to the administrative court to decide.

An appeal against the decision of the administrative court may be lodged with the Administrative Court within the time limit and in the form provided for in subsection (1), paragraph 4.

(3) An appeal for annulment may be lodged with the Administrative Court against a decision of inadmissibility taken pursuant to section 28(2). The appeal must be lodged within fifteen days of notification. The administrative court shall give its decision within two months of the lodging of the application. This time limit is automatically reduced to one month if the applicant is subject to a placement measure in accordance with Article 22. By way of derogation from the legislation on proceedings before the administrative courts, there may not be more than one statement of case from each party, including the introductory application. The decision of the administrative court is not subject to appeal.

(4) An appeal against the transfer decision referred to in section 28(1) shall be lodged with the administrative court. The appeal must be lodged within fifteen days of notification. The administrative court shall give its decision within one month of the lodging of the application. By way of derogation from the legislation on proceedings before the administrative courts, there may not be more than one brief from each party, including the introductory application. The decision of the administrative court is not subject to appeal.

 

Article 36.

(1)The appeals provided for in section 35(1), (2) and (4) shall have suspensive effect. The Minister shall authorise the applicant to remain in the country until the expiry of the time limits set for the exercise of appeals and, if he finds that this right has been exercised within the time limit, pending the outcome of the appeal.

(2) The appeals provided for in section 35(3), with the exception of an appeal against a decision of inadmissibility taken pursuant to section 28(2)(c), shall not have suspensive effect. Without prejudice to section 9(2), the applicant may file an application for interim relief with the president of the administrative court to obtain a stay of execution or a safeguard measure, and the Minister’s decision shall not be executed until the interim relief order has been issued.

(3)The applicant requiring special procedural safeguards and the unaccompanied minor shall have one week to file the application for interim relief under subsection (2).

 

Chapter 3. – Regulations on the conditions to be met by third country nationals or stateless persons in order to be granted international protection, a uniform status for refugees and persons eligible for subsidiary protection

 

Art. 37.

(1)It is the responsibility of the applicant to present, as quickly as possible, all the elements necessary to support his/her application for international protection. The Minister shall assess, in cooperation with the applicant, the relevant elements of the application.

(2)The material referred to in subsection (1) shall consist of the applicant’s statements and any documents in the applicant’s possession relating to the applicant’s age, background, including that of relevant relatives, identity, nationality or nationalities, country or countries and place or places of previous residence, previous claims for refugee protection, travel itinerary, travel documents, and the reasons for the application for international protection.

(3)The Minister shall make an individual assessment of an application for international protection taking into account

(a) all relevant facts about the country of origin at the time of deciding the application, including the laws and regulations of the country of origin and how they are applied;

(b) relevant information and documents submitted by the applicant, including information as to whether the applicant has been or may be subject to persecution or serious harm

(c) the individual status and personal circumstances of the applicant, including factors such as background, gender and age, in order to determine whether, in the light of the applicant’s personal circumstances, the acts to which the applicant has been or may be exposed could be considered persecution or serious harm

(d) whether, since leaving the country of origin, the applicant has engaged in activities the sole or main purpose of which was to create the conditions necessary to make an application for international protection, in order to determine whether such activities would expose the applicant to persecution or serious harm if returned to that country

(e) whether it is reasonable to believe that the applicant would be able to avail himself or herself of the protection of another country whose citizenship he or she could claim.

(4)The fact that an applicant has already been persecuted or suffered serious harm or has been subject to direct threats of such persecution or harm is a serious indication of the applicant’s well-founded fear of persecution or real risk of serious harm, unless there are reasonable grounds for believing that such persecution or serious harm will not be repeated.

(5) Where certain aspects of the applicant’s statements are not supported by documentary or other evidence, these aspects do not require confirmation where the following conditions are met

(a) the applicant has made a genuine effort to support the claim;

(b) all relevant material available to the applicant has been presented and a satisfactory explanation has been given for the lack of other evidence

(c) the applicant’s statements are considered coherent and plausible and are not contradicted by the general and specific information known and relevant to his or her application

(d) the applicant has made his or her application for international protection as soon as possible, unless he or she can show good reasons for not doing so; and

(e) the general credibility of the applicant could be established.

 

Art. 38.

(1)A well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of suffering serious harm may be based on events that have taken place since the applicant left the country of origin.

(2)A well-founded fear of being persecuted or a real risk of suffering serious harm may be based on activities carried out by the applicant since leaving the country of origin, in particular if it is established that the activities on which this application is based constitute the expression and continuation of beliefs or orientations held in the country of origin.

(3) Without prejudice to the Geneva Convention, an applicant who makes a subsequent application shall not normally be granted refugee status, if the risk of persecution is based on circumstances which the applicant has created by his or her own action since leaving the country of origin.

 

Art. 39.

The actors of persecution or serious harm may be

1. a) The State;
2. b) parties or organisations that control the State or a significant part of its territory

(c) non-state actors, if it can be demonstrated that the actors referred to in (a) and (b), including international organisations, are unable or unwilling to provide protection from persecution or serious harm.

 

Art. 40.

(1) Protection from persecution or serious harm can only be granted by:

1. a) the State, or

(b) parties or organizations, including international organizations, which control the State or a substantial part of its territory, provided that they are willing and able to offer protection within the meaning of subsection (2).

(2)Protection from persecution or serious harm must be effective and not temporary. Such protection is generally afforded where the actors referred to in paragraph (1) (a) and (b) take reasonable steps to prevent persecution or serious harm, inter alia, where they have an effective judicial system for detecting, prosecuting and punishing acts constituting persecution or serious harm, and where the applicant has access to such protection.

 

(3) In determining whether an international organisation controls a State or a substantial part of its territory and whether it provides protection within the meaning of subsection (2), the Minister shall take into account any guidance provided by the relevant acts of the Council of the European Union.

 

Article 41.

(1)In assessing an application for international protection, the Minister may consider that an applicant is not in need of international protection if, in a part of the country of origin

(a) they do not have a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of serious harm; or

(b) they have access to protection from persecution or serious harm within the meaning of section 40 and can safely and lawfully travel to and obtain permission to enter that part of the country and can reasonably be expected to settle there.

(2)In considering whether an applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of serious harm, or has access to protection from persecution or serious harm in a part of the country of origin in accordance with subsection (1), the Minister shall, in determining the application, take into account the general conditions in that part of the country and the personal circumstances of the applicant in accordance with section 37. To this end, the Minister shall ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is obtained from relevant sources, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Asylum Support Office.

 

Art. 42.

(1)The acts considered as persecution within the meaning of Article 1A of the Geneva Convention must:

(a) be sufficiently serious in nature or repeated to constitute a serious violation of fundamental human rights, in particular of those rights from which no derogation is possible under Article 15(2) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; or

(b) be an accumulation of various measures, including violations of human rights, which is sufficiently serious to affect an individual in a manner comparable to that set out in (a).

(2)Acts of persecution within the meaning of subsection (1) may take, inter alia, the following forms

(a) physical or mental violence, including sexual violence;

(b) legal, administrative, police and/or judicial measures which are discriminatory in themselves or implemented in a discriminatory manner

(c) prosecution or punishment that is disproportionate or discriminatory

(d) the denial of a judicial remedy resulting in a disproportionate or discriminatory sanction;

1. e) prosecution or punishment for refusal to perform military service in the event of a conflict where military service would involve committing crimes or performing acts falling within the scope of the grounds for exclusion referred to in Article 45(2)

(f) acts directed against persons on account of their sex or against children.

 

(3)In accordance with Article 2(f), there must be a link between the grounds mentioned in Article 43 and acts of persecution within the meaning of subsection (1) or the lack of protection against such acts.

 

Section 43.

(1)In assessing the grounds for persecution, the Minister shall take into account the following

(a) the concept of race includes, in particular, considerations of colour, descent or membership of a certain ethnic group

(b) the concept of religion shall include, in particular, holding theistic, non-theistic or atheistic beliefs, participation in or non-participation in private or public worship, whether alone or in community, other religious acts or expressions of religious opinion, and forms of personal or communal behaviour based on or dictated by religious beliefs

(c) the concept of nationality is not limited to citizenship or the lack thereof, but includes, in particular, membership of a group united by its cultural, ethnic or linguistic identity, its common geographical or political origins, or its relationship with the population of another State

(d) a group is considered a certain social group when, in particular

– its members share an innate characteristic or a common history that cannot be changed, or a characteristic or belief that is so essential to identity or consciousness that a person should not be required to renounce it; and

– that group has its own identity in the country in question because it is perceived as different by the surrounding society.

Depending on the conditions in the country of origin, a specific social group may be a group whose members share a common sexual orientation. Sexual orientation cannot be understood to include acts that are deemed criminal under Luxembourg law. Gender aspects, including gender identity, for the purpose of recognising membership of a certain social group or identifying a characteristic of such a group shall be given due consideration;

(e) the concept of political opinion includes, in particular, opinions, ideas or beliefs in a field related to the potential actors of persecution and their policies and methods, whether or not those opinions, ideas or beliefs have been translated into action by the applicant.

(2)In assessing whether an applicant has a well-founded fear of persecution, it is immaterial whether he or she actually possesses the characteristic of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion that is the cause of the persecution, provided that this characteristic is attributed to him or her by the actor of persecution.

 

Art. 44.

(1) A third country national or stateless person shall cease to be a refugee in the following cases

(a) if he has voluntarily re-availed himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; or

(b) He has voluntarily reacquired his nationality after losing it; or

(c) he or she has acquired a new nationality and enjoys the protection of the country of his or her nationality; or

(d) he/she has voluntarily re-established himself/herself in the country which he/she left or outside which he/she remained owing to fear of persecution; or

(e) he can no longer continue to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality, the circumstances in connection with which he was recognised as a refugee having ceased to exist;

(f) if, in the case of a stateless person, he is able to return to the country of his former habitual residence, the circumstances in connection with which he was recognised as a refugee have ceased to exist.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(e) and (f), the Minister shall consider whether the change in circumstances is sufficiently significant and not temporary that the refugee’s fear of persecution can no longer be regarded as well-founded.

(3)Subsection (1)(e) and (f) shall not apply to a refugee who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution for refusing to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality or, in the case of a stateless person, of the country in which he had his habitual residence.

 

Art. 45.

(1) A third country national or a stateless person is excluded from refugee status

1. a) if he/she is covered by Article 1, Section D, of the Geneva Convention, concerning protection or assistance by a United Nations body or agency other than the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. If such protection or assistance ceases for any reason, without the fate of such persons having been finally settled in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, such persons shall ipso facto be entitled to avail themselves of this Act;

(b) he is considered by the competent authorities of the country in which he has established his residence as having the rights and obligations which are attached to the possession of the nationality of that country, or rights and obligations equivalent thereto.

(2) A third country national or a stateless person is excluded from refugee status where there are serious reasons for considering that

(a) he has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity within the meaning of international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;

(b) that he has committed a serious non-political crime outside Luxembourg before being admitted as a refugee, i.e. before the date on which he obtained a residence permit issued on the basis of refugee status; particularly cruel actions, even if committed with an allegedly political objective, may be classified as serious non-political crimes

(c) he has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Preamble and Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter of the United Nations.

(3)Paragraph (2) applies to persons who instigate or otherwise participate in the crimes or acts referred to in that paragraph.

 

Art. 46.

The Minister shall grant refugee status to any third-country national or stateless person who qualifies as a refugee in accordance with the foregoing articles.

 

Art. 47.

(1)The Minister shall revoke the refugee status granted to a third-country national or a stateless person, where the refugee has ceased to enjoy such status under Article 44.

(2)Without prejudice to the obligation of the refugee to declare all relevant facts and to provide any relevant evidence available to him, the Minister shall prove on a case-by-case basis that the person concerned has ceased to be or never was a refugee.

(3)The Minister shall revoke the refugee status of any third country national or stateless person if the Minister establishes, after granting refugee status, that:

(a) the refugee is or should have been excluded from refugee status under section 45;

(b) any alteration or omission of facts by the Minister, including the use of false documents, was material to the decision to grant refugee status.

(4)The Minister may revoke the status of a refugee

(a) where there are reasonable grounds for regarding the refugee as a threat to the security of the country;

(b) where, having been finally convicted of a particularly serious crime, the person constitutes a threat to the society of the country.

(5)In the circumstances described in subsection (4), the Minister may decide not to grant refugee status where such a decision has not yet been made.

 

(6)Persons to whom paragraphs (4) and (5) apply are entitled to enjoy the rights provided for in Articles 3, 4, 16, 22, 31, 32 and 33 of the Geneva Convention or similar rights, as long as they are in Luxembourg territory.

 

Art. 48.

Grave breaches are:

(a) the death penalty or execution; or

(b) torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of an applicant in his/her country of origin; or

1. c) serious and individual threat to the life or person of a civilian by reason of indiscriminate violence in internal or international armed conflict.

 

Art. 49.

(1)A third-country national or a stateless person ceases to be a person eligible for subsidiary protection when the circumstances which justified the granting of such protection cease to exist or have changed to such an extent that such protection is no longer needed.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister shall take account of the change in circumstances, determining whether the change in circumstances is sufficiently significant and not temporary that the person eligible for subsidiary protection is no longer at real risk of serious harm.

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to a beneficiary of subsidiary protection status who is able to rely on compelling reasons relating to previous serious harm for refusing to avail himself or herself of the protection of the country of nationality or, in the case of a stateless person, the country of former habitual residence.

 

Art. 50.

(1) A third-country national or a stateless person shall be excluded from the persons eligible for subsidiary protection if there are serious grounds for considering that

(a) he or she has committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity within the meaning of international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;

(b) that he or she has committed a serious non-political crime;

(c) he or she has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations as set forth in the Preamble and Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter of the United Nations

(d) he represents a threat to the society or security of Luxembourg.

(2)Subsection (1) applies to persons who instigate or otherwise participate in the crimes or acts referred to in that subsection.

(3)The Minister may exclude any third-country national or stateless person from the persons eligible for subsidiary protection if, prior to his or her admission to Luxembourg, he or she has committed one or more crimes which do not fall within the scope of paragraph (1) and which would be punishable by imprisonment if committed in Luxembourg, and if he or she left his or her country of origin only with the aim of escaping punishment as a result of these crimes.

 

Art. 51.

The Minister shall grant subsidiary protection status to a third-country national or a stateless person who qualifies as a person eligible for subsidiary protection in accordance with the preceding articles.

 

Art. 52.

(1)The Minister shall revoke the status conferred by subsidiary protection when the person concerned has ceased to be a person eligible for subsidiary protection under Article 49.

(2)The Minister may revoke refugee status where it is found, after the grant of subsidiary protection status, that the person concerned should have been excluded from being a person eligible for subsidiary protection.

(3)The Minister shall revoke subsidiary protection status if:

(a) after the granting of such status, it is found that the person concerned is or should have been excluded from persons eligible for subsidiary protection under section 50(1) and (2);

(b) alterations or omissions of facts on his part, including the use of false documents, were a determining factor in the decision to grant subsidiary protection status.

(4) Without prejudice to the obligation of any third-country national or stateless person to declare all relevant facts and to provide any relevant evidence available to him or her, the Minister shall prove, on a case-by-case basis, that a person has ceased to be or is not eligible for subsidiary protection under subsections (1), (2) and (3) of this Article.

 

Chapter 4. – Content of international protection

 

Art. 53.

(1)This chapter, which deals with the content of international protection, is without prejudice to the rights enshrined in the Geneva Convention.

(2) This Chapter applies to both refugees and persons eligible for subsidiary protection, unless otherwise specified.

(3) In the application of this Chapter, account shall be taken of the specific situation of vulnerable persons such as minors, unaccompanied minors, disabled persons, elderly persons, pregnant women, single parents with minor children, victims of trafficking in human beings, persons with mental disorders and persons who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence. The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

(4)Subsection (3) shall only apply to persons whose special needs have been determined after an individual assessment of their situation in accordance with section 19.

 

Section 54.

(1)The Minister shall respect the principle of non-refoulement in accordance with his or her international obligations.

 

(2)Where the Minister is not prohibited from doing so by virtue of the international obligations referred to in subsection (1), the Minister may return a refugee, whether or not he or she is formally recognized as such, where

(a) where there are serious grounds for considering that he is a threat to the security of Luxembourg; or

(b) having been finally convicted of a particularly serious crime, he constitutes a threat to Luxembourg society.

(3)The Minister may refuse to grant a residence permit to a refugee who falls within the scope of paragraph (2), revoke it, or refuse to renew it.

 

Art. 55.

The Minister shall provide beneficiaries of international protection, as soon as possible after they have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status, with access to information specifying, in a language they understand or may reasonably be presumed to understand, the rights and obligations pertaining to the respective protection status.

 

Art. 56.

(1)The Minister shall ensure that the family unit can be maintained. The Minister may decide that the provisions of this section shall apply to other close relatives who were living in the family of the beneficiary at the time of departure from the country of origin and who were wholly or mainly dependent on the beneficiary.

(2)The Minister shall ensure that family members of the beneficiary of refugee or subsidiary protection status who individually do not qualify for such status may claim the benefits referred to in sections 57 to 66, insofar as this is compatible with the personal legal status of the family member.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) shall not apply where the family member is or would be excluded from the benefit of international protection.

(4)Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), the Minister may refuse, limit or withdraw the benefits referred to therein for reasons of national security or public order.

 

Section 57.

(1) As soon as possible after international protection has been granted, beneficiaries of refugee status and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status shall be issued with a residence permit valid for a period of at least three years and renewable, unless compelling reasons of national security or public order prevent this.

(2)A residence permit issued in accordance with subsection (1) shall constitute a residence permit issued by the Minister to a third-country national or a stateless person to reside in his territory. It is drawn up in the form provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 380/2008 of 18 April 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. It shall contain the words “international protection – refugee status” or “international protection – subsidiary protection”. The residence permit automatically lapses when the Minister revokes the refugee status or the status conferred by the subsidiary protection.

 

Art. 58.

 

(1) Beneficiaries of refugee status shall obtain a travel document drawn up in accordance with the Annex to the Geneva Convention and intended to enable them to travel outside Luxembourg territory, unless compelling reasons of national security or public order prevent this.

(2) Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection status who are unable to obtain a national passport shall be issued with documents allowing them to travel, unless there are compelling reasons of national security or public order.

 

Art. 59.

(1)Beneficiaries of international protection shall be allowed to engage in employed or self-employed activities, subject to the rules generally applicable in the sector of activity concerned and in the public services, immediately after the protection has been granted.

(2)Activities such as employment-related training opportunities for adults, vocational training, including skills training, practical workplace experience and counselling services provided by the employment agency are offered to beneficiaries of international protection under conditions equivalent to those applicable to Luxembourg nationals.

(3) Luxembourg legislation applies with regard to remuneration, access to social security schemes related to employed or self-employed activities, and other conditions of employment.

 

Art. 60.

(1) Minors who have been granted international protection shall obtain full access to the education system under the same conditions as Luxembourg nationals.

(2) Adults who have been granted international protection have access to the general education system as well as to further training or retraining under the same conditions as third-country nationals legally residing in Luxembourg territory.

(3) The State guarantees equal treatment between beneficiaries of international protection and Luxembourg nationals in the context of existing procedures for the recognition of diplomas, certificates or other formal qualifications.

(4) Full access of beneficiaries of international protection who are unable to provide documentary evidence of their qualifications to appropriate systems of assessment, validation and accreditation of their previous training is facilitated.

 

Articles 4 and 5 of the Law of 19 June 2009 transposing Directive 2005/36/EC as regards a) the general system for the recognition of training qualifications and professional qualifications; b) the temporary provision of services shall apply to them.

 

Art. 61.

Beneficiaries of international protection shall receive the same necessary social assistance as that provided for Luxembourg nationals.

 

Art. 62.

(1) Beneficiaries of international protection shall have access to health care under the same conditions of access as Luxembourg nationals.

(2) Appropriate health care, including the treatment of mental disorders that may be required for beneficiaries of international protection who have special needs, such as pregnant women, disabled persons, persons who have a mental disability, and persons who have a mental illness, shall be guaranteed under the same conditions of access as for Luxembourg nationals, persons with disabilities, persons who have been victims of torture, rape or any other serious form of moral, physical or sexual violence or minors who have been victims of any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or armed conflict.

 

Art. 63.

(1) As soon as possible after the granting of international protection, the representation of unaccompanied minors shall be ensured, by an ad hoc administrator or, if necessary, by an organisation responsible for the care and welfare of the minors, or by any other appropriate form of representation.

(2)The needs of unaccompanied minors shall be given due consideration by the appointed ad hoc administrator or representative.

(3)Unaccompanied minors shall be accommodated

(a) with adult relatives; or

(b) with a foster family; or

(c) in centres specialised in accommodation for minors; or

(d) in other accommodation suitable for minors.

In this context, the views of the child should be taken into account, depending on his or her age and maturity.

 

(4) As far as possible, siblings shall not be separated, having regard to the best interests of the juvenile concerned and in particular to his or her age and maturity. In the case of unaccompanied minors, changes of residence shall be kept to a minimum.

 

(5) If an unaccompanied minor is granted international protection, family members whose tracing has not yet started shall be traced as soon as possible after the granting of international protection, while protecting the best interests of the minor. If the search has already begun, the search operations shall be continued, if necessary. In cases where the life or physical integrity of a minor or his or her relatives would be at risk, in particular if they have remained in the country of origin, the collection, processing and dissemination of information concerning these persons shall be kept confidential.

(6) Staff dealing with unaccompanied minors have had or are receiving appropriate training regarding their needs.

 

Art. 64.

Beneficiaries of international protection have access to housing under conditions equivalent to those enjoyed by nationals of other third countries legally residing on Luxembourg territory.

 

Art. 65.

Persons enjoying international protection may move freely within Luxembourg territory.

 

Art. 66.

In order to facilitate the integration of beneficiaries of international protection into society, the Government shall guarantee them access to integration programmes that it deems appropriate in order to take into account the specific needs of beneficiaries of refugee status or subsidiary protection status, or shall create the preconditions for access to such programmes.

Chapter 5. – Temporary protection

 

Art. 67.

The purpose of this chapter is to grant temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from third countries who cannot return to their country of origin.

 

Art. 68.

Temporary protection does not prejudge the recognition of the status conferred by international protection.

 

Art. 69.

The temporary protection regime is triggered by a decision of the Council of the European Union taken under the conditions defined by Articles 4 to 6 of Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof.

 

Art. 70.

(1) The criminal investigation department shall carry out any checks necessary to establish the identity of the person applying for temporary protection. It may, if necessary, carry out a body search of the applicant and a search of his belongings, it being understood that this search shall be carried out with respect for human dignity. He may take fingerprints and photographs of the person concerned. He shall conduct a hearing of the person concerned and draw up a report.

(2) The identity documents of persons applying for temporary protection shall be kept, against receipt, at the Ministry for the duration of the temporary protection.

 

Art. 71.

(1)Persons may be excluded from temporary protection if

1. a) for whom there are serious reasons to believe that:
2. i) they have committed a crime against peace, a war crime or a crime against humanity, within the meaning of the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes;

(ii) that they have committed a serious non-political crime outside the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg before being admitted as beneficiaries of temporary protection. The seriousness of the persecution to be expected must be considered in relation to the nature of the crime of which the person concerned is suspected. Particularly cruel actions, even if committed with an allegedly political objective, can be classified as serious non-political crimes. This applies both to the participants in the crime and to the instigators of the crime;

(iii) they have been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations;

(b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that they represent a danger to national security or, having been convicted by a final judgement of a particularly serious crime, that they constitute a threat to the Luxembourg community.

 

(2) The grounds for exclusion referred to in paragraph (1) are based exclusively on the individual conduct of the person concerned. Exclusion decisions shall respect the principle of proportionality.

 

Article 72.

The Minister shall issue a specific certificate to the beneficiary of the temporary protection regime. This certificate allows the holder to remain on Luxembourg territory, but does not confer a right to residence in accordance with the legislation on the entry and residence of foreigners.

 

The certificate specifies its period of validity, which will only be extended if it has been endorsed by the municipal administration of the place of actual residence of the beneficiary of temporary protection. It is issued until the temporary protection regime has ended.

The beneficiary of temporary protection is obliged to make a declaration of arrival to the municipality in which he/she establishes his/her habitual residence. Any change of residence within the municipality or the transfer of the usual residence to another municipality must be declared to the municipality of the new residence.

 

Art. 73.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection shall receive a document in a language that they can understand, in which the provisions relating to temporary protection that apply to them are clearly set out.

 

Art. 74.

If a person enjoying temporary protection in Luxembourg stays illegally, during the period of temporary protection, on the territory of another Member State of the European Union, he or she will be readmitted to the territory of Luxembourg at the request of the Member State concerned.

 

Art. 75.

(1) The beneficiary of temporary protection may apply for family reunification in favour of one or more members of his or her family if the family was already constituted in the State of origin and has been separated due to circumstances surrounding the mass influx.

(2)The following shall be regarded as family members within the meaning of this Article

(a) the sponsor’s spouse

(b) the unmarried minor children of the applicant or his or her spouse, whether born in lawful wedlock or adopted

(c) other close relatives who were living in the family unit at the time of the events leading to the mass influx and who were wholly or mainly dependent on the sponsor at that time.

(3) The Minister shall grant family reunification to separated family members who are granted temporary protection in one or more other Member States of the European Union and who he or she is satisfied fit the description in subsection (2)(a) and (b), in agreement with the other Member State(s) concerned, taking into account the wishes of the family members.

(4) The Minister may grant family reunification to separated family members who are granted temporary protection in one or more other Member States of the European Union and who he or she is satisfied meet the description in subsection (2)(c), in agreement with the other Member State(s) concerned, taking into account, on a case-by-case basis, the extreme difficulties they would face if reunification did not take place.

 

(5) The Secretary of State shall grant family reunification to separated family members who are not yet present in the territory of a Member State, who are in need of protection and whom the Secretary of State is satisfied fit the description in subsection (2)(a) and (b).

(6) The Minister may grant family reunification to separated family members who are not yet present in the territory of a Member State, who are in need of protection and whom the Minister is satisfied fall within the description in subsection (2)(c), taking into account, on a case-by-case basis, the extreme hardship they would face if reunification did not take place.

(7)The Minister shall have regard to the best interests of the child in making the decision.

(8)The Minister shall issue to the family members who have benefited from a reunification measure the certificate referred to in section 72.

(9)Where persons are granted the benefit of a temporary protection regime in another Member State, whether on a personal basis or for family reunification, they shall automatically lose the benefit of the temporary protection regime in Luxembourg and their certificate referred to in Article 72 shall lapse.

(10)The Minister shall provide, at the request of another Member State, the information and documents relating to a beneficiary of temporary protection deemed necessary to process a case under this Article.

 

Section 76.

The representation and placement of unaccompanied minors enjoying temporary protection shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Article 63.

 

Art. 77.

(1) Beneficiaries of temporary protection may at any time apply for international protection.

(2) The benefit of temporary protection cannot be combined with the status of applicant for international protection during the examination of this application.

(3)If, after the examination of the application for international protection, such protection is not granted to the beneficiary of temporary protection, the benefit of the temporary protection shall remain with the beneficiary for the remaining duration of the protection.

(4) The examination of applications for international protection, which have not been processed before the expiry of the temporary protection period, shall be completed after the expiry of this period.

 

Art. 78.

The criteria and mechanisms for determining the EU Member State responsible for examining an asylum application shall apply. In particular, the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged by a person enjoying temporary protection shall be the State which has accepted the transfer of the said person to its territory.

 

Art. 79.

(1) Persons enjoying temporary protection may at any time renounce this protection with a view to voluntary return to their country of origin. As long as the temporary protection regime has not ended, the Minister shall, taking into account the situation in the country of origin, give favourable consideration to applications for return to Luxembourg submitted by persons who have benefited from temporary protection and who have voluntarily returned to their country of origin.

(2)Persons whose temporary protection has ended will be invited by the Minister to return voluntarily to their country of origin.

(3)The Minister shall ensure that persons referred to in subsections (1) and (2) make an informed decision to return to their country of origin.

(4) A programme for voluntary return to the country of origin may be set up, if necessary in cooperation with the relevant international organisations.

(5) Persons who have not returned voluntarily to their country of origin after a period of time specified by the Minister shall be removed from the territory in accordance with the legislation on the entry and stay of foreigners.

(6) Forced return shall be carried out with respect for human dignity. The Minister shall consider compelling humanitarian reasons that may make return impossible or unreasonable in specific cases.

(7)The Minister shall take the necessary measures concerning the conditions of stay of persons who have been granted temporary protection and who, due to their state of health, cannot reasonably be expected to travel. As long as this situation persists, these persons shall not be removed.

The Minister may authorise families whose minor children are studying in the country to benefit from residence conditions that allow the children concerned to complete the current school term.

 

Chapter 6. – Amending and repealing provisions

 

Art. 80.

Article 37-1, paragraph (1), subparagraph 4, first sentence of the amended Act of 10 August 1991 on the legal profession shall be amended as follows”

The benefit of legal aid may also be granted to any other foreign national whose resources are insufficient, for procedures relating to access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreigners and for procedures relating to applications for international protection within the limits of Article 17 of the Act of 18 December 2015 on international protection and temporary protection.”

 

Art. 81.

The amended Act of 29 August 2008 on the free movement of persons and immigration is amended as follows

1° Article 100 is supplemented by a paragraph (3) reading as follows:”

(3)In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 concerning the establishment of Eurodac for the comparison of fingerprints for the effective application of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person and concerning requests for comparison with Eurodac data by Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, and amending Regulation (EU) No 1077/2011 establishing a European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice, the criminal investigation department may take fingerprints of an illegally staying alien of at least 14 years of age in order to determine whether that person has previously lodged an application for international protection in another Member State and which Member State is responsible for examining the application.”

2° Article 120(1), first sentence, is amended as follows:

“Article 120.

(1)In order to prepare for the execution of a removal order pursuant to Articles 111, 116 to 118 or a request for transit by air pursuant to Article 127, or when the detention in the waiting area exceeds the forty-eight hour period provided for in Article 119, the foreign national may, by decision of the Minister, be placed in detention in a closed structure, unless other less coercive measures as provided for in Article 125(1) can be effectively applied.”

3° Article 125, paragraph (1), is amended as follows:

” Article 125.

(1) In the cases provided for in Section 120, the Minister may also decide to apply another, less coercive measure to a foreigner for whom the enforcement of the obligation to leave the country, while remaining a reasonable prospect, is postponed only for technical reasons and who presents effective guarantees of representation to prevent the risk of absconding as provided for in Section 111(3).

Less coercive measures shall mean

(a) the obligation for the alien to report regularly, at intervals to be determined by the Minister, to the services of the latter or another authority designated by him, after handing over the original passport and any document proving his identity in exchange for a receipt valid as proof of identity;

(b) house arrest for a maximum of six months in the places determined by the Minister; the house arrest may be accompanied, if necessary, by an electronic surveillance measure which entails a ban on the foreigner leaving the area determined by the Minister. The execution of the measure is monitored by means of a process that allows the presence or absence of the foreigner within the said perimeter to be detected at a distance. The implementation of this process may lead to the imposition on the foreigner of a device incorporating a transmitter for the entire duration of his or her placement under electronic surveillance. The process used is approved for this purpose by the Minister. Its implementation must guarantee respect for the dignity, integrity and privacy of the person.

 

The implementation of the technical device allowing remote monitoring and the remote monitoring itself may be entrusted to a private person;

1. c) the obligation for the foreigner to deposit a financial guarantee of five thousand euros to be transferred or paid either by himself or by a third party to the Caisse de consignation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act of 29 April 1999 on deposits with the State. This sum is acquired by the State in the event of the escape or removal by force of the person in whose favour the deposit was made. The guarantee is returned by a written decision of the Minister ordering the Caisse de Consignation to do so in the event of voluntary return.

Decisions ordering less coercive measures shall be taken and notified in the manner provided for in Articles 109 and 110. Article 123 shall apply. The measures provided for may be applied jointly. In the event of failure to comply with the obligations imposed by the Minister or in the event of a risk of absconding, the measure shall be revoked and detention ordered.”

4. In Article 125a, the last sentence of paragraph (1) is replaced by the following:

“The decision to postpone removal may be accompanied by other less coercive measures as provided for in Article 125(1)”

5° Following Article 142, a Section 3 entitled “Section 3 – Unauthorised crossing of external borders” is inserted containing a new Article 143, which reads as follows:

“Article 143.

The crossing of the external borders of the European Union in breach of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) shall be punishable by a fine of EUR 1 500. The fine is imposed by the Minister. The amount shall be paid to the Treasury. ”

6° Article 89 is amended as follows:

“Article 89.

(1) Provided that his presence is not likely to constitute a danger to public order, public security or public health, and provided that he has not used false or misleading information relating to his identity, has resided in the territory for at least four years prior to the submission of the application, shows a genuine desire to integrate and has not evaded a removal order, a residence permit shall be granted by the Minister to a third-country national

1. if they exercise parental authority over a minor child who lives with them in their household and has been continuously attending school in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for at least four years and if they can prove that they can support themselves and their family members; or
2. if they have been continuously and successfully educated for at least four years in an educational establishment in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and submit their application before the age of 21, proving that they have sufficient resources to meet their needs.

 

(2) Persons authorised to reside under paragraph (1) shall be issued with a residence permit for employed persons if they fulfil the conditions of Article 42(1)(3) and (4) and the residence permit provided for in Article 79 if they are pursuing studies or vocational training.”

 

Art. 82.

Article 6 of the Act of 28 May 2009 on the creation and organisation of the Detention Centre shall read as follows:

“Art. 6.

(1) The Centre is divided into several units, one of which has increased security and surveillance measures specifically reserved for detainees with risky behaviour. As a rule, detained applicants for international protection are separated from other third-country nationals who have not applied for international protection.

(2) Detainees of the opposite sex shall be separated, unless they are family members and all persons concerned consent.

(3) Persons or families accompanied by minors placed at the Centre for removal shall be kept in a separate unit reserved for them. The duration of their placement shall not exceed 72 hours.”

 

Art. 83.

The amended Act of 5 May 2006 on the right of asylum and complementary forms of protection is repealed.

 

Art. 84.

Reference to this Act may be made in abbreviated form using the following title: “Act of 18 December 2015 on international protection and temporary protection”.