How do EMN Member Countries distribute asylum centres and manage relationships with local communities?

Policies aiming to distribute international protection applicants across a country have become common features of reception systems. These policies aim to address concerns about the concentration of applicants and overconcentration in certain local areas. EMN countries have taken various approaches to decision criteria and how they govern distribution. Distribution policies can either contribute to integration and service provision or hinder it, depending on how they are designed.

The implementation of these policies is nuanced and can be contentious. This EMN Ireland Migration Memo outlines both distribution policies and how countries manage relationships with local communities when asylum accommodation centres are opened, though measuring their effectiveness is beyond the scope.

Key takeaways
 

• Distribution is a common feature of reception systems, with countries using different criteria to distribute centres and applicants.
   
• Countries use different strategies to engage local stakeholders, including local communities and service providers before, during and after the opening of centres. Some countries have developed coordination and consultation mechanisms that could be used as models.
   
• Many countries have identified good practices, including advanced agreement on distribution and communication mechanisms, communication plans for the opening of new centres, proactive communication with local stakeholders, and financial support to hosting municipalities.