Number of staff and nature of the first instance authority

Romania

Country Report: Number of staff and nature of the first instance authority Last updated: 31/05/23

Author

Felicia Nica
Name in English Number of staff Ministry responsible Is there any political interference possible by the responsible Minister with the decision making in individual cases by the first instance authority?
General Inspectorate for Immigration–  Directorate for Asylum and Integration (IGI-DAI) 341 Ministry of Internal Affairs  No

The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), a government agency under the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is in charge of the asylum procedure through its Directorate of Asylum and Integration (DAI). IGI-DAI is also in charge of operating the Regional Centres for Asylum Seekers (“reception centres”) and specially designed closed spaces within the reception centres.

The competent authority for taking decisions on asylum applications at first instance is the General Inspectorate for Immigration – Directorate for Asylum and Integration (IGI-DAI), specifically specialised in the field of asylum.

IGI-DAI may request public institutions, agencies or organisations operating on the territory of Romania, the necessary documentation to analyse the applicant’s situation and take a decision, respecting the confidentiality rules. In these cases, the consent of the applicant is not required.[1]

The Head of IGI, the general inspector, is appointed by an order of the Minister of Internal Affairs.[2] The head is assisted by 2 deputy general inspectors, who are selected after an examination/competition organised by IGI. The examination is organised in compliance with the provisions of Law no. 360/2002 on the Status of the Police Officer, the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs no. 140/2016 on the human resources management activity in the Ministry, the General Manager’s Order of the General Directorate of Human Resources Management no. II / 1620 / 15.09.2015 on procedures and forms used in human resource management activity by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

IGI-DAI includes a director and a deputy director. These positions are filled through an exam, the reassignment from a different location or by direct designation, according to Law 360/2002 on the Status of the Police Officer.[3]

Both the institutional structure and the IGI’s mandate are prescribed by Government Decision no.639 of 20 June 2007.

At the regional level, IGI-DAI has 6 regional centres for the accommodation of and the legal procedures for asylum seekers. Every regional centre has a director and a deputy director; integration officer(s); officers responsible for fingerprinting and photographing; officers conducting preliminary interviews; case officers conducting interviews and drafting decisions; legal counsellors representing the institution in the court in relation to asylum cases; a logistics department, a financial department and medical personnel. The same case officers conducting the regular procedure conduct the border and accelerated procedure.

In 2022[4] as in 2021 IGI-DAI had 29 case officers[5], in comparison with 2020 when there were 23 case officers[6] and 16 officers responsible for the preliminary interviews.[7] In 2022, 4 new case officers were hired, another 2 case officers were on maternity leave and 5 case officers’ positions remain vacant.[8]

According to IGI-DAI, all case officers receive specific training, through the organisation of seminars, the processing of guidelines, ad-hoc meetings, monitoring visits and quality assessment.[9]

Besides, information provided in individual cases if requested, case officers are provided information regularly through the specialised department within IGI-DAI and through the materials developed by UNHCR and EUAA.[10]

Specialised training on vulnerable groups is provided to all officers through the organization of seminars, the processing of guidelines, ad-hoc meetings, monitoring visits and quality assessment.

Any officer may assess applications made by vulnerable asylum seekers. [11]

In 2022 IGI-DAI reported that it monitors the quality of the decisions issued through an internal procedure and monitoring visits conducted jointly with UNHCR.[12] The quality decision is assessed after the decision has been taken.[13]

 

 

 

[1] Article 49(2) Asylum Act.

[2] Art.2(1) DECISION no. 639 of 20 June 2007 (amended) on the organizational structure and attributions of the General Inspectorate for Immigration.

[3] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 July 2019.

[4] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.

[5] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 11 March 2022.

[6] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 16 February 2021.

[7] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 July 2019.

[8] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 July 2019.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection
  • ANNEX I – Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation