The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has prepared an information note in order to provide a brief overview about the fundamental asylum-related legal amendments entering into force on 1 July 2013 in Hungary.

The Hungarian Helsinki Committee has prepared an information note in order to provide a brief overview about the fundamental asylum-related legal amendments entering into force on 1 July 2013 in Hungary. The amendments introduce a separate detention regime for asylum-seekers, seriously weakens the judicial review of immigration and asylum detention and the right to appeal in asylum procedures, as well as it fails to ensure adequate reception conditions. The HHC notes with serious concern these changes, some of which may raise incompatibility with international human rights norms and EU law.

The note  describes

• the legal situation between  January and June 2013,
• asylum detention,
• judicial review in asylum procedures and
• reception conditions.

In concluding the note the HHC raises its concerns that:

• no proper impact assessment was carried out before the amendments and
• key stakeholders were not provided with adequate time to consult and comment on the amendments.

The HHC will closely monitor the implementation of the amended regulation in the forthcoming months.

The paper can be downloaded here.