Author
IGI-DAI may limit or withdraw the material reception conditions granted to asylum seekers by a reasoned decision communicated to the applicant. The Asylum Act provides that the grounds for which material reception conditions may be limited or withdrawn are to be determined by a Government decision.[1] Accordingly, these are laid down in the Asylum Decree.
IGI-DAI may limit or withdraw the material reception conditions where the applicant:[2]
- Leaves the place of residence established for 72 hours without having previously informed the Regional Centre;
- Does not comply with the obligation to present themselves at the request of IGI-DAI in order to provide information or does not attend interviews notified to them;
- Repeatedly violates the house rules of the Regional Centres.
The law does not foresee any limitation on reception conditions due to large numbers of arrival. Where reception capacity is exhausted, IGI-DAI grants a specific allowance to asylum seekers to secure accommodation (see Forms and Levels of Material Reception Conditions).
More particularly as regards violations of house rules, Article 47 of the Regulation of Internal Order (ROI) prescribes the applicable sanctions in cases of disciplinary deviations, with the exception of applicants held in the specially designed closed spaces. The Director of the centre or their legal substitute shall apply individually, gradually and proportionally with the seriousness of the act, one of the following sanctions:
- Oral warning;
- Written warning;
- Suspension of the daily amount of 12RON for local transport expenses, cultural services, press, repair and maintenance services and expenses for personal hygiene products, for a period of 1-3 months;
- Temporary suspension from the centre for 24 hours;
- Temporary suspension from the centre for 7 days;
- Eviction from the centre.
Decisions on reducing or withdrawing material reception conditions must be reasoned and taken on an individual basis, impartially and objectively.[3] The decision is signed by the Director of the Regional Centre. However, potential risks of destitution following the withdrawal of reception conditions are not assessed.
That these measures remain in place has been confirmed for the year 2023 by IGI-DAI, who stated that they can be ordered according to the provisions of Article 47 of the Regulation of Internal Order (ROI) as indicated above.[4] However, IGI-DAI did not provide information as to practice in 2023 and 2024.
According to IGI-DAI, 9,462 eviction notices were taken in 2022,[5] compared to 1099 in 2021[6], 803 in 2020[7] and 639 in 2019:[8] IGI-DAI stated that these eviction notices were issued for asylum seekers who left the centre without a formal request for more than 72 hours. Of the total number of decisions 3,350 were issued for Ukrainians who were accommodated in the centres. There was no available data for 2024.
| Bucharest | Timișoara | Galaţi | Rădăuţi | Şomcuta Mare | Giurgiu | Total |
| 328 | 2630 | 886 | 3728 | 814 | 1074 | 9,462 |
Source: IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.
The decisions to withdraw reception conditions were taken either because the asylum seekers left the reception centre without prior notification or they failed to observe the ROI.[9]
The sanction imposed was suspension of the daily amount of 12 RON for local transport expenses, cultural services, press, repair and maintenance services and expenses for personal hygiene products, for a period of 1-3 months.[10]
The decision on reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions may be challenged, subject to the rules applicable in the Accelerated Procedure: Appeal.[11] In 2019, the first and only appeal was drafted, but the applicant did not lodge it. In 2022, no decision to withdraw or reduce the reception conditions was challenged, while there is no information for 2023 and 2024.
According to CNRR, unlike in 2023, no applicants in 2024 have reported the suspension of the 12 RON/day allowance or any other reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions. In the previous year, for instance, this financial support—intended for transportation, cultural services, and other expenses—was no longer granted to asylum seekers who had been rehoused after eviction (such as in cases where they left the centre without approval for three or more consecutive days).[12]
Based on observed practices, the most common disciplinary measures are verbal and written warnings. Regional Centres regularly organize information sessions for accommodated individuals, attended by integration officers, NGO representatives, medical staff, logistics department officers and contract employees, PCA officers, psychologists, and EUAA interpreters. These sessions cover topics such as hygiene and sanitary regulations, financial aid provided by the IGI, and room re-compartmentalization.[13]
Additionally, if an applicant has received financial aid in advance but is later found to have sufficient financial resources (exceeding the threshold of 32 RON/day), they are required to return the amount received. Notably, no applicants have reported any reduction in the hygiene products distributed to them monthly.[14]
[1] Article 19^1(1) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 55^1 Asylum Decree.
[3] ibid. Article 55^1(3).
[4] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[5] ibid. 22 February 2023.
[6] ibid. 10 March 2022.
[7] ibid. 16 February 2022.
[8] ibid. 20 February 2020.
[9] ibid. 10 March 2022.
[10] ibid.
[11] Article 19^1(1) Asylum Act.
[12] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[13] ibid.
[14] ibid.