Glossary
The EMN Glossary – as one of the key products of the EMN - improves comparability by enabling a common understanding and use of terms and definitions relating to asylum and migration. The Glossary draws on a variety of sources, but primarily on the legislation of the EU asylum and immigration acquis, and makes terms available in the majority of EU Member State languages.
The online version is regularly updated and available in various languages.
- BG: Междуправителствени консултации по миграция, убежище и бежанци
- CZ: Mezivládní konzultace k migraci, azylu a uprchlictví
- DE: Zwischenstaatliche Beratungen über Migration, Asyl und Flüchtlinge
- EE: valitsustevahelised konsultatsioonid rände-, varjupaiga- ja pagulasteemal
- EN: Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees
- ES: Consultas Intergubernamentales sobre Asilo, Refugio y Migración
- FI: IGC (Euroopan, Pohjois-Amerikan ja Australian turvapaikka-, pakolais- ja siirtolaispolitiikkoja käsittelevät hallitustenväliset neuvottelut)
- FR: Consultations intergouvernementales sur les politiques d’asile, de réfugiés et de migrations
- GA: Comhairliúcháin Idir-Rialtasacha maidir le hImirce, Tearmann agus Dídeanaithe
- HU: Kormányközi Tanácskozás / Együttműködés a Migrációról és a Menekültügyről
- IT: Consultazioni Inter-Governative in materia di Immigrazione, Asilo e Rifugiati
- LT: tarpvyriausybinės konsultacijos migracijos, prieglobsčio ir pabėgėlių klausimais
- LV: Starpvaldību konsultācijas par migrācijas, patvēruma un bēgļu jautājumiem
- MT: Konsultazzjonijiet Intergovernattivi fuq Migrazzjoni, Ażil u Rifuġjati
- NL: IGC (BE syn.: Intergouvernementeel Overleg over migratie, asiel en vluchtelingen)
- NO: Flernasjonal informasjonsutveksling om migrasjons, asyl- og flyktningspørsmål
- PL: międzyrządowe konsultacje nt. migracji, azylu i uchodźców
- PT: consultas intergovernamentais sobre migrações, asilo e refugiados
- RO: Consultări interministeriale cu privire la migraţie, azil şi refugiaţi
- SE: Intergovernmental Consultations on Migration, Asylum and Refugees
- SK: Medzivládne konzultácie o migrácii, azyle a utečencoch
- SL: Medvladna posvetovanja o migraciji, azilu in beguncih
An informal, non-decision making forum for intergovernmental information exchange and policy debate on issues of relevance to the management of international migratory flows, which brings together the participating states, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) , the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the European Commission.
2. For more information on participating states etc., see the IGC website.
- BG: доброволно връщане
- CZ: dobrovolný návrat
- DE: freiwillige Rückkehr
- EE: vabatahtlik (riigist) lahkumine
- EN: voluntary return
- ES: retorno voluntario
- FI: vapaaehtoinen paluu
- FR: retour volontaire
- GA: filleadh deonach
- GR: εθελούσια επιστροφή
- HU: önkéntes hazatérés
- IT: ritorno volontario
- LT: savanoriškas grįžimas
- LV: brīvprātīga atgriešanās
- MT: Ritorn volontarju
- NL: vrijwillige terugkeer
- NO: frivillig retur (b) / friviljug retur (n)
- PL: dobrowolny powrót
- PT: retorno voluntário
- RO: returnare voluntară
- SE: frivilligt återvändande
- SK: dobrovoľný návrat
- SL: prostovoljna vrnitev
The assisted or independent return to the country of origin, transit or third country, based on the free will of the returnee.
2. The types of persons returning without the assistance of the State include those who:
a) would be under no (legal) obligation to do so. As stated in the definition, it is entirely their decision as to whether they return or not;
b) are irregularly resident and have not (yet) been apprehended/detected (e.g. overstayers), but who decide to return anyway;
c) have applied to stay (e.g. asylum seeker, person applying for international protection) and whose application has not yet been finalised, but decide to return anyway.
3. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) prefers the term ‘voluntary repatriation’.
- BG: no translation
- CZ: uprchlík prima facie
- DE: Prima-Facie Flüchtling
- EE: prima facie pagulane
- EN: prima facie refugee
- ES: refugiado (prima facie)
- FI: prima facie -pakolainen
- FR: réfugié prima facie
- GA: dídeanaí prima facie
- GR: εκ πρώτης όψεως πρόσφυγας
- HU: prima facie elismert menekült
- IT: rifugiato prima facie
- LT: prima facie pabėgėlis
- LV: prima facie bēglis
- MT: Rifuġjat(a) prima facie
- NL: prima facie vluchteling
- NO: prima facie-flyktning
- PL: uchodźca prima facie
- PT: refugiados prima facie
- RO: refugiat prima facie
- SE: prima facie-flykting
- SK: utečenec prima facie
- SL: prima facie begunec
Person recognised as a refugee, by a State or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on the basis of objective criteria related to the circumstances in their country of origin, which justify a presumption that they meet the criteria of the applicable refugee definition.
This term refers to a more theoretical concept and is often not applied.
- BG: презаселен бежанец
- CZ: přesídlený uprchlík
- DE: neuangesiedelter Flüchtling
- EE: ümberasustatud pagulane
- EN: resettled refugee
- ES: refugiado reasentado
- FI: uudelleensijoitettu pakolainen
- FR: réfugié réinstallé
- GA: dídeanaí athlonnaithe
- HU: áttelepített menekült
- IT: rifugiato reinsediato
- LT: perkeltas pabėgėlis
- LV: pārvietots bēglis
- MT: rifuġjat(a) risistemat(a)
- NL: programma voor uitgenodigde vluchtelingen (BE: programma voor hervestigde vluchteling)
- NO: overføringsflyktning
- PL: przesiedlony uchodźca
- RO: refugiat relocat
- SE: kvotflykting
- SK: presídlená osoba / presídlený utečenec / presídlenec
- SL: ponovno naseljeni begunec
In the EU context, a third-country national or stateless person who, on a resettlement request from UNHCR based on their need for international protection, are transferred from a third country to a Member State where they are permitted to reside with one of the following statuses:
(i) refugee status within the meaning of Art. 2(d) of Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive) or
(ii) a status which offers the same rights and benefits under national and Union law as refugee status
2. In some cases, national authorities assess in addition as to whether the person concerned is a refugee.
3. There are different terms used in EU Member States depending on different legal concepts. In some Member States such refugees are accepted as part of a yearly resettlement programme.
4. IE uses the term ‘programme refugee’ in a wider context than ‘resettlement’ and defines in Section 24 of the Irish Refugee Act, 1996 as follows: ‘a person to whom leave to enter and remain in the State for temporary protection or resettlement as part of a group of persons has been given by the Government’.
- BG: програма за презаселване
- CZ: přesídlovací program
- DE: Neuansiedlungsprogramm
- EE: ümberasustamisprogramm
- EN: resettlement programme
- ES: programa de reasentamiento
- FI: uudelleensijoittamisohjelma
- FR: programme de réinstallation
- GA: clár athlonnaithe
- GR: πρόγραμμα μετεγκατάστασης
- HU: áttelepítési (letelepítési) program
- IT: programma di reinsediamento
- LT: perkėlimo programa
- LV: pārvietošanas programma
- MT: Programm ta’ risistemazzjoni
- NL: hervestigingsprogramma
- NO: gjenbosettingsprogram (b) / gjenbusetjingsprogram (n)
- PL: Program Przesiedleń
- PT: programa de reinstalação
- RO: program de relocare
- SE: program för vidarebosättning
- SK: presídľovací program / program presídľovania
- SL: program ponovne naselitve
In the EU context, voluntary programmes by which EU Member States aim to provide international protection and durable solutions in their territories to refugees and displaced persons identified as eligible for resettlement by UNHCR, and which include actions that the Member States implement to assess the resettlement needs and transfer the persons concerned to their territories, with a view to granting them a secure legal status and to promoting their effective integration.
EU context: Derived by EMN from Recital 18 of Decision 573/2007/EC establishing the European Refugee Fund
- BG: презаселване
- CZ: přesídlení
- DE: Neuansiedlung
- EE: ümberasustamine
- EN: resettlement
- ES: reasentamiento
- FI: uudelleensijoittaminen
- FR: réinstallation
- GA: athlonnú
- GR: επανεγκατάστασης
- HU: áttelepítés (letelepítés)
- IT: reinsediamento
- LT: perkėlimas
- LV: pārvietošana
- MT: Risistemazzjoni
- NL: hervestiging
- NO: gjenbosetting (b) / gjenbusetjing (n)
- PL: przesiedlenie
- PT: reinstalação
- RO: relocare
- SE: vidarebosättning
- SK: presídlenie / presídľovanie
- SL: ponovna naselitev
In the EU context, the transfer, on a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and based on their need for international protection, of a third-country national or stateless person, from a third country to an EU Member State, where they are permitted to reside with one of the following statuses:
(i) refugee status within the meaning of Art. 2(d) of Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive)(ii) a status which offers the same rights and benefits under national and EU law as refugee status.
2. This term should not be confused with ‘relocation’.
- BG: no translation
- CZ: uprchlík
- DE: statutärer Flüchtling
- EE: statuudipagulane
- EN: statutory refugee
- ES: refugiado bajo instrumentos anteriores a la Convención de 1951
- FI: pakolaisaseman saanut henkilö / sääntömääräinen pakolainen
- FR: réfugié statutaire
- GA: dídeanaí de réir reachta
- GR: πρόσφυγας σύμφωνα με το νόμο
- HU: történelmi menekült
- IT: rifugiato titolare dello status prima della Convenzione di Ginevra del 1951
- LT: pabėgėlis pagal susitarimus
- LV: [Ženēvas konvencijas] statūtbēglis
- MT: Rifuġjat(a) statutarju(-a)
- NL: erkende vluchteling (syn.: verdragsvluchteling)
- NO: statuttflyktning
- PL: uchodźca statutowy
- PT: refugiados estatutários
- RO: refugiat statutar
- SE: konventionsflykting
- SK: štatutárny utečenec
- SL: statusni begunec
Person considered to be a refugee (according to the criteria of Art. 1A(I) of the Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol) under the provision of the international instruments preceding the Geneva Convention of 1951 or a person who has been recognised as a refugee by the former International Refugee Organisation during the period of its activities.
2. This type of status is normally no longer granted, although the term is still used by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in its activities.
- BG: социален пол
- CZ: gender
- DE: soziales Geschlecht
- EE: sugu
- EN: gender
- ES: género
- FI: sukupuoli
- FR: genre
- GA: inscne
- GR: γένος
- HU: (társadalmi) nem(i szerep)
- IT: genere
- LT: lytis
- LV: dzimums
- MT: Ġeneru / Ġens / Sess
- NL: gender
- NO: kjønn
- PL: gender, płeć społeczno-kulturowa
- PT: género
- RO: gen
- SE: genus
- SK: rod
- SL: spol
The socially constructed attributes, roles, activities, responsibilities and needs predominantly connected to being male or female in given societies or communities at a given time.
2. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) use the following definition of 'gender identity': '"Each person's deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth, including the personal sense of the body - which may involve, if chosen, modification of bodily appearance or function by medical, surgical or other means - and other expressions of gender, including of dress, speech and mannerism (see ICJ, Yogyakarta Principles - Principles on the Application of International Human Rights Law in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, ('Yogyakarta Principles'), March 2007 )
- BG: Върховен комисар на ООН за бежанците
- CZ: Vysoký komisař OSN pro uprchlíky
- DE: Hoher Flüchtlingskommissar der Vereinten Nationen
- EE: ÜRO pagulaste ülemvolinik
- EN: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- ES: Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados
- FI: Yhdistyneiden kansakuntien pakolaisasiain päävaltuutettu
- FR: Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés
- GA: Ard-Choimisinéir na Náisiún Aontaithe do Dhídeanaithe
- HU: Az Egyesült Nemzetek Menekültügyi Főbiztosa
- IT: Alto Commissariato delle Nazioni Unite per i Rifugiati
- LT: Jungtinių Tautų vyriausiasis pabėgėlių reikalų komisaras
- LV: Apvienoto Nāciju Organizācijas Augstais komisārs bēgļu lietās
- MT: Kummissjoni (Il-) Għolja għar-Rifuġjati tan‑Nazzjonijiet Uniti
- NL: Hoog Commissariaat der Verenigde Naties voor Vluchtelingen
- NO: FNs høykommissær for flyktninger (b) / FNs høgkommissær for flyktningar (n)
- PL: Wysoki Komisarz Narodów Zjednoczonych do Spraw Uchodżców
- RO: Înaltul Comisariat al Naţiunilor Unite pentru Refugiaţi / Înatul Comisariat ONU pentru Refugiaţi
- SE: FN:s flyktingorgan
- SK: Úrad Vysokého komisára OSN pre utečencov
- SL: Visoki komisariat Združenih narodov za begunce
The refugee agency of the United Nations (UN) mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide, and to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
2. The Geneva Refugee Convention and Protocol is the basic statute guiding the UNHCR’s work. The functions of the UNHCR are defined in the Statute of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, which was adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 1950.
3. For further information, see the website of the UNHCR.
- BG: Комитет по имиграция и убежище
- CZ: Výbor pro přistěhovalectví a azyl
- DE: Ausschuss für Einwanderung und Asyl
- EE: sisserände- ja varjupaigakomitee
- EN: Committee on Immigration and Asylum
- ES: Comité de Inmigración y Asilo
- FI: Maahanmuutto- ja turvapaikka-asioiden komitea
- FR: Comité sur l’immigration et l’asile
- GA: An Coiste um Inimrice agus Thearmann
- GR: Επιτροπή για τη Μετανάστευση και το Άσυλο
- HU: Bevándorlási és Menekültügyi Bizottság
- IT: Comitato Immigrazione e Asilo
- LT: Imigracijos ir prieglobsčio komitetas
- LV: Imigrācijas un patvēruma komiteja
- MT: Kumitat dwar l-Immigrazzjoni u l-Ażil
- NL: Comité voor immigratie en asiel
- NO: Komiteen for innvandrings- og asylspørsmål
- PL: Komitet ds. Imigracji i Azylu
- PT: Comité Imigração e Asilo
- RO: Comitetul Imigraţie şi Azil
- SE: kommittén för frågor om invandring och asyl
- SK: Výbor pre prisťahovalectvo a azyl
- SL: Odbor za priseljevanje in azil
A European Commission-led expert group aimed at facilitating an informal exchange of views between EU Member State administrations and the Commission services on political and legal issues related to migration, border and asylum.
2. The CIA is also used as a forum for collecting information on the situation in EU Member States (via questionnaires) on selected policy-relevant issues and where the Commission can report to EU Member States on its activities.
3. Participants from EU Member States are nominated on an ad-hoc basis; normally both ‘generalists’ from the Permanent Representations and ‘specialists’ from the capitals are present. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are sometimes invited to join discussions of the CIA as active observers.
4. For more information, see the European Commission Register of Commission Expert Groups.
- BG: трайни решения
- CZ: trvalé řešení
- DE: dauerhafte Lösung
- EE: püsivad lahendused
- EN: durable solutions
- ES: soluciones duraderas
- FI: kestävät ratkaisut
- FR: solutions durables
- GA: buanréitigh; réitigh mharthanacha (uatha: buanréiteach; réiteach marthanach)
- GR: ανθεκτική λύση
- HU: a fenntarthatóságot szolgáló intézkedések
- IT: soluzione durevole
- LT: ilgalaikiai sprendimai
- LV: ilgtspējīgi risinājumi
- MT: Soluzzjonijiet dewwiema / li jibqgħu fis-seħħ
- NL: duurzame oplossing
- NO: varige løsninger (b) / varige løysingar (n)
- PL: trwałe rozwiązania
- RO: solutii durabile
- SE: hållbara lösningar
- SK: trvalé riešenia / trvácne riešenia (depending on the context)
- SL: trajne rešitve
Any means by which the situation of refugees can be satisfactorily and permanently resolved to enable them to live normal lives.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) traditionally pursues the durable solutions of voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement.
- BG: сигурна страна на произход
- CZ: bezpečná země původu
- DE: sicherer Herkunftsstaat
- EE: turvaline päritoluriik (kolmas riik)
- EN: safe country of origin
- ES: país de origen seguro
- FI: turvallinen alkuperämaa
- FR: pays d’origine sûr
- GA: tír thionscnaimh atá sábháilte
- GR: ασφαλής χώρα προέλευσης
- HU: biztonságos származási ország
- IT: paese di origine sicuro
- LT: saugi kilmės šalis
- LV: droša izcelsmes valsts
- MT: Pajjiż tal-oriġini sigur / bla perikli
- NL: veilig land van herkomst
- NO: trygt hjemland (b) / trygt heimland (n)
- PL: bezpieczny kraj pochodzenia
- PT: país de origem seguro
- RO: ţara de origine sigură
- SE: säkert ursprungsland
- SK: bezpečná krajina pôvodu
- SL: varna izvorna država
A country where, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution as defined in Art. 9 of Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive), no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.
2. According to the Protocol 29 of TFEU, EU Member States shall be regarded as constituting safe countries of origin in respect of each other for all legal and practical purposes in relation to asylum matters. Accordingly, any application for asylum made by a national of a Member State are normally not taken into consideration.
3. EU Member States shall regularly review the situation in third countries that are designated as safe countries of origin.
4. The assessment of whether a country is a safe country of origin shall be based on a range of sources of information, including in particular information from other EU Member States, European Asylum Support Office (EASO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations.
5. According to Art. 36 of Directive 2013/32/EU (Recast Asylum Procedures Directive), the 'concept of safe country of origin' means that a third country is - after an individual examination of the application - considered as a safe country of origin for a particular applicant only if:
- they have the nationality of that country; or
- they are a stateless person and were formerly habitually resident in that country, and they have not submitted any serious grounds for considering the country not to be a safe country of origin in their particular circumstances and in terms of their qualification as a beneficiary of international protection in accordance with Directive 2011/95/EU (Recast Qualification Directive).
- BG: Европейска служба за подкрепа в областта на убежището
- CZ: Evropský podpůrný azylový úřad
- DE: Europäisches Unterstützungsbüro für Asylfragen
- EE: Euroopa varjupaigaküsimuste tugiamet
- EN: European Asylum Support Office
- ES: Oficina Europea de Apoyo al Asilo
- FI: Euroopan turvapaikka-asioiden tukivirasto
- FR: Bureau européen d’appui en matière d’asile
- GA: an Oifig Tacaíochta Eorpach do Chúrsaí Tearmainn
- GR: Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο Στήριξης για το Άσυλο
- HU: Európai Menekültügyi Támogatási Hivatal
- IT: Ufficio Europeo di Sostegno per l’Asilo
- LT: Europos prieglobsčio paramos biuras
- LV: Eiropas Patvēruma atbalsta birojs
- MT: Uffiċċju (L-)ta’ Appoġġ Ewropew fil-Qasam tal‑Ażil
- NL: Europees Ondersteuningsbureau voor Asielzaken [BE syn.: Europees asielondersteuningsbureau]
- NO: Det europeiske støttekontoret på asylfeltet
- PL: Europejski Urząd Wsparcia w dziedzinie Azylu
- PT: Gabinete Europeu de Apoio ao Asilo
- RO: Biroul European de Sprijin în domeniul Azilului
- SE: Europeiska byrån för samarbete i asylfrågor
- SK: Európsky podporný úrad pre azyl
- SL: Evropski azilni podporni urad
A European Union agency mandated to focus on three major responsibilities: to contribute to the coherent implementation and development of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS), to support and strengthen practical cooperation among EU Member States on asylum and to provide and/or coordinate the provision of operational support to EU Member States, subject to particular pressure on their asylum and reception systems.
2. The Support Office should work closely with the EU Member States’ asylum authorities, with national immigration and asylum services and other national services and with the European Commission. Furthermore, it should also carry out its duties without prejudice to those assigned to other relevant bodies of the European Union and shall work closely with these bodies as well as with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, it does not have any powers in relation to the taking of decisions by EU Member States’ asylum authorities on individual applications for international protection.
3. For further information, see the website of EASO.