Spain plans faster asylum decisions and migrant returns under two preliminary bills allowing some applicants to remain in border facilities for up to 12 weeks during formal review.
The cabinet approved the drafts at an initial stage Tuesday. One would replace Spain’s 2009 asylum law, while the other would partially amend the Foreigners Act to implement the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.
A mandatory border procedure would apply in specified cases before applicants are formally admitted to Spanish territory. Decisions, including judicial review, would normally be completed within 12 weeks, with a possible extension to 16 weeks in limited circumstances, RTVE reported.
A separate accelerated process, carrying a three-month deadline, would prioritize claims considered weak or potentially intended to delay removal. It would include applicants from countries whose EU-wide protection recognition rate is 20% or lower and people considered security or public-order threats.
The Foreigners Act reform would introduce mandatory screening for irregular arrivals at external borders, applicants at border posts and people rescued at sea. Screening would include identification, biometric registration, medical checks, vulnerability assessments and security reviews.
Rejected applicants would receive a denial-of-entry decision requiring departure. The measures would shorten the interval between an asylum refusal and return, including by allowing some administrative decisions to be challenged directly in court rather than through an initial administrative appeal.
Applicants would be required to provide available documents, biometric data and other requested information. Failure to cooperate could lead to an application being treated as withdrawn.
Reception-center violations could trigger reduced assistance, transfer to another facility or temporary or permanent withdrawal of benefits after disciplinary proceedings.
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