Who is Who - Dublin procedures

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Who is Who in International Protection in the EU+: Dublin Units and Other Stakeholders

The recast Dublin III Regulation establishes the criteria and mechanisms to determine 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. It is supplemented by the Commission Implementing Regulation which clarifies how to effectively implement certain rules of the recast Dublin III Regulation.

The information has been validated by each country, with the exception of Estonia and Portugal.

The data visualisations present the role and competencies of Dublin units, as well as the stakeholders involved in the Dublin procedure. Use the arrows at the top-left corner to navigate to the next data visualisation and hover over a country to view the relevant information.

Overview of the role and competencies of Dublin units

This overview presents the national authorities which are responsible for the Dublin procedure. It maps their place within the institutional framework and their activities (e.g. conducting the Dublin interview, notifying about the transfer decision, organising the Dublin transfer, etc.).

The Role and Competencies of Dublin Units (May 2024)

Overview of stakeholders involved in the Dublin procedure

This overview presents stakeholders which are involved in each stage of the Dublin procedure at the national level. It maps the actors involved in various steps, including information provision, legal assistance, the referral of cases, etc.

Stakeholders Involved in the Dublin Procedure (May 2024)

Key findings

In the majority of EU+ countries, Dublin units have been set up to specifically handle cases that fall under the Dublin procedure. There are a few notable exceptions where an autonomous Dublin unit has not been created. In Estonia, the Dublin procedure is fully managed by the Police and Border Guard Board. In Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, Dublin cases are handled by specialised case officers within the asylum administration.
In 23 EU+ countries, Dublin interviews are conducted by the main asylum authority or a specific Dublin unit. In contrast, in 3 EU+ countries (Estonia, Norway and Spain) the Dublin interview is conducted by the police; in Latvia and Poland, by the Border Guard; in Austria, by the initial reception centre; and in Romania, by the accommodation centre.
In the majority of EU+ countries, the main asylum authority or Dublin unit is responsible for sending and replying to take back, take charge and information requests. The two exceptions are Estonia, where the police and border guard are responsible for these tasks, and Austria, where these tasks are handled by the initial reception centre.
In the majority of EU+ countries, the main asylum authority or a specific Dublin unit is responsible for the notification of the transfer decision. However, in Estonia, Finland and Italy, it is done by the police; in Latvia, by the Border Guard; in Austria, by the initial reception centre; and in Romania, by the Accommodation Centre.
In most cases, the police or border guards are responsible for accompanying and receiving applicants during a Dublin transfer. In Denmark, a Return Agency is involved in both steps of the procedure. In Poland, a legal guardian is present for unaccompanied minors. In Cyprus, an applicant with health issues will also be accompanied by medical staff.