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History of asylum and Ofpra
The first international refugee status was created following World War I (1914-18), and Ofpra has been protecting refugees and stateless persons since 1952.
We invite you to follow this journey on our historical timeline!
This chronology focuses on the history of the refugee status in France during the 20th and 21st centuries. It summarises the main texts adopted by France, the international and national institutions created for the protection of refugees, and the nationalities making the most frequent asylum requests, as well as the major events which have played a key role in these applications. It is important to note that there is not always a correlation between the rate of applications and an historic event.
Discover the 2010s
2010's
Année
2010
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Common European Asylum System (CEAS): implementation of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Malta with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, reinforcing practical cooperation on asylum between the Member States, and providing operational support to the Member States whose asylum systems and reception are under particular pressure. Creation of the OFPRA History Committee OFPRA is placed under the administrative and financial supervision of the Ministry of the Interior, the ministry responsible for asylum.
Année
2011
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Arab Springs (December 2010-March 2011): the Arab world is deeply impacted by an unprecedented movement emerging from social groups contesting the conditions imposed by the authoritarian government. Originating in Tunisia, this movement reaches Egypt, then several countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
Mains nationalities of asylum seekers : Bangladeshis, Congolese (DRC), Armenians, Sri Lankans.
Common European Asylum System (CEAS): adoption on 13 December 2011 of the revised “Qualification” directive which sets out the reasons justifying the granting of an international protection.
Main nationalities : Congolaese (DRC), Albanians, Georgians, Pakistanis
The conflict in Syria and the seizing of power by armed Islamist groups in Mali have a repercussion on asylum requests, with an increase in Syrian and Malian requests. France is ranked second of the host countries for asylum seekers in Europe, behind Germany.
Année
2013
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Main nationalities of asylum seekers : Congolese (DRC), Kosovars et Albanians.
Due to the current conflicts, applications from Syrians, Malians and Central Africans increase greatly. 26 June 2013: adoption of the directive procedures, the new reception directive, the new revised Dublin Regulation (Dublin III), and the revised EURODAC Regulation.
Humanitarian resettlement mission for Syrian refugees decreed by the President of the Republic in October.
Année
2014
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Main nationalities of asylum seekers : Congolese (DRC), Chinese, Bangladeshi, Russians.
Because of these ongoing conflicts there is a big increase in asylum requests from Syrians and Sudanese.
The civil war in Syria led to several external interventions and the balance of power was disrupted by the appearance of the Salafist Jihadist organisation known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—later renamed the Islamic State (IS) — which clashed with all the other warring parties in 2014. Officially defeated in Spring 2019, the Islamic State has never completely disappeared from Syria.
Syrian and Iraqi refugees on a boat coming form Turkey, attempting to land on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
Adoption of the second European Pact on Immigration and Asylum. OFPRA organised missions to the Near East and began processing Syrian applications within a shorter timeframe than usual. OFPRA also accompanied migrants at Calais, organising an on-site mission providing information on asylum and implementing the rapid investigation of the applications made there. At OFPRA, the asylum seeker can now come to the interview at the Office accompanied by a lawyer or a representative of an approved organisation. The opening of an online service allowing protected persons to file their applications for copies of civil-status documents. Implementation of “quality control” of the Office’s decisions, run with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) during 2014, 2016 and 2018 with a double assessment by the Office agents and experts appointed by the HCR.
Année
2015
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2015 is the year of the “Asylum Crisis” during which more than 1 million migrants sought asylum in the European Union.
In France there is a notable rise in asylum requests from the second half of 2015, in particular from people in obvious need of protection (Syrians, Iraqis, Sudanese, Erythreans, Afghans).
Law concerning asylum reform of 29 July 2015: new guarantees for asylum seekers (presence of a third person at interview, audio recording, reclassification from the accelerated procedure to the normal procedure, better care of vulnerable people), priority treatment of applications from people in obvious need of protection. Within the context of the war on terrorism (marked by the terrorist attacks on the Bataclan in November), the law requires OFPRA to communicate to the Public Prosecutor all information pertinent to exclusion. The Office must see whether an asylum seeker presents a serious threat to the security of the State or to society, and if this is the case they may refuse asylum, or may remove their existing asylum status. OFPRA publishes the Asylum Guide for Unaccompanied Minors in France, and organises its first Open Days for the partners of the Office.
Année
2018
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Main nationalities of asylum seekers : Afghans, Albanians, Georgians, Guineans, Ivoirians.
Law of 10 September 2018: the beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless persons now receive a four-year resident permit. Accompanied minors are better supported at all stages of the asylum process and their protection by OFPRA: the asylum request presented by a foreigner arriving in France accompanied by their underage children is now regarded as being in their name and those of their children.
OFPRA contributes to the implementation of the commitment made by the President of the Republic to Nadia Murad, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, to welcome to France a hundred Yezidi women and their families, who had been victims of the Islamic State.
Année
2019
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Main nationalities of asylum seekers : Afghans, Guineans, Georgians, Albanians.
OFPRA receives 132,700 applications in 2019 and grants its protection to 46,200 people, making this the highest annual figure in its history. Fifteen resettlement missions are organised in Sahel and in the Middle East with the HCR.
