'Dublin' statistics (migr_dub)

National Reference Metadata in Single Integrated Metadata Structure (SIMS)

Compiling agency: Immigration Office (Office des étrangers/ Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken).


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Accessibility and clarity
11. Quality management
12. Relevance
13. Accuracy
14. Timeliness and punctuality
15. Coherence and comparability
16. Cost and Burden
17. Data revision
18. Statistical processing
19. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

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1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Immigration Office (Office des étrangers/ Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken).
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Statistics Unit
1.5. Contact mail address

Boulevard Pacheco, 44
B-1000 Bruxelles
Belgium


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 25/09/2023
2.2. Metadata last posted 25/09/2023
2.3. Metadata last update 25/09/2023


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

This metadata information is provided by the authorities of Belgium to ensure compliance with the requirements of Article 4.4 (Dublin statistics) of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 on Migration and International Protection as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851.

As required by Article 9 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide Eurostat with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.

The reference document used for assessing the compliance of the concepts and definitions in this metadata file is the document Dublin statistics - Eurostat Technical guidelines to Dublin statistics (see Annex).
3.1.1. General description and overview of the statistical domain at national level
The three main data sources for producing the Dublin statistics are the Dublin app (used by the services in charge of applying the Regulation 604/2013), the National Register ("Registre national" in French, a Central Population Register) and the database of the Immigration Office ("Evibel").

The main data extracted from the National Register to produce the Dublin statistics are the general variables related to the characteristics of persons (citizenship, sex, date of birth…).

The main data extracted from the database of the Immigration Office to complete the data extracted from the National Register are :
  •     the characteristics of accompanied minors (citizenship, sex, date of birth);
  •     data related to the unilateral 'Dublin' decisions (decision and type of decision).
 All other information relating to the Dublin procedure is taken from the Dublin application.
3.2. Classification system

See below.
3.2.1. International and national classifications and breakdowns used
Classification Eurostat breakdown National breakdown
Request Total, Request, Re-examination request, Unknown Total, Request, Re-examination request (for the incoming dataset).
Decision on request Total, Positive decision, Negative decision, Unknown Total, Positive decision, Negative decision, Unknown
Legal provision (Dublin criteria) Please consult the latest Technical Guidelines documentation (in Annex)

Articles 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 13.1, 13.2, 14, 15, 16, 17.2, 18.1.b, 18.1.c, 18.1.d, 20.5

Articles 34.5; 6.5 and 8.6; 16.4 
Duration of transfer Total, From 1 to 6 months, From 7 to 12 months, From 13 to 18 months Total, From 1 to 6 months, From 7 to 12 months, From 13 to 18 months
Duration of response to a request for information Total, 5 weeks or less, Over 5 weeks, Unknown Total, Unknown
Sex Total, Males, Females, Unknown Total, Males, Females, Unknown
Applicant Total, Adult, Unaccompanied minor, Accompanied minor, Unknown Total, Adult, Unaccompanied minor, Accompanied minor, Unknown
3.3. Coverage - sector

Migration and international protection – Dublin statistics
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

See below.
3.4.1. Definitions and discrepancies
Concept / Variable Definition at national level Discrepancy from Eurostat definition
Request

For the incoming dataset: all the requests to take back or charge of an asylum applicant or requests for information addressed by the Member States (Partner) to the Belgian authorities, and the responses by the Belgian authorities to the Member States (Partner), that are recorded in the Dublin application.


For the outgoing dataset: all the requests to take back or charge of an asylum applicant or requests for information addressed by the Belgian authorities to the Member States (Partner), and the responses by the Member States (Partner) to the Belgian authorities, that are recorded in the Dublin application.

 The Dublin application only allows to record one request for information per alien’s file number, regardless of whether there are several people involved or whether a request is sent to several partner countries.
Re-examination request This variable is only available for the incoming dataset.   
Request based on Eurodac

For the incoming dataset: all the requests to take back or charge of an asylum applicant addressed by the Member States (Partner) to the Belgian authorities, and the responses by the Belgian authorities to the Member States (Partner), that are based on Eurodac hits and are recorded  in the Dublin application.


For the outgoing dataset: all the requests to take back or charge of an asylum applicant addressed by the Belgian authorities to the Member States (Partner), and the responses by the Member States (Partner) to the Belgian authorities, that are based on Eurodac hits and are recorded  in the Dublin application.

  
Transfer

Regarding the incoming transfers: successful transfers carried out from a Member State to Belgium.


Regarding the outgoing transfers: successful transfers carried out from Belgium to another Member State.

 Successful transfers where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits, without the national authorities organising the actual transfer, are not reported by Belgium.
Responsibility by default (Art. 3.2 First paragraph): no prior criteria applicable Any applicant for which either no request was sent to other countries because no Dublin criteria applied at the first place, or if a request was sent it was rejected as it was proved a posteriori that the Dublin criteria did not apply, that are detected among the persons whose asylum application is transmitted by the Immigration Office to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons.  
Responsibility by default (Art. 3.2 Second and third paragraph): no transfer All persons who were not transferred to the partner country due to application of Art. 3.2 Second and third paragraph of the Dublin Regulation, that are detected among the persons whose asylum application is transmitted by the Immigration Office to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons. These persons are only counted when their asylum application is transmitted by the Immigration Office to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, who is responsible for examining the application on the merits.
Responsibility by default (Art. 29.2): transfer not implemented All persons whose transfer could not be implemented (whatever the reason) within the foreseen time limits, that are detected among the persons whose asylum application is transmitted by the Immigration Office to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS). These persons are only counted when their asylum application is transmitted by the Immigration Office to the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, and not when the foreseen time limits for the transfers are over. Requests for protection from persons who do not contact the competent authorities after the foreseen time limits for the transfer are not transmitted to the CGRS, because we do not know whether or not they have complied with the transfer decision.
3.5. Statistical unit

The text of Art.4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 on Migration and international protection refers in general to statistics based on the number of persons and not on the number of applications. However, the article describing the 'Dublin' statistics (Art.4.4) refers to statistics based on the number of requests. Commission services recommend that Art.4.4 (more precisely 4.4.a, 4.4.c and 4.4.d) is interpreted as referring to the number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer.


The statistics relating to requests for information relate to the total of files. Therefore they underestimate the actual number of such requests.
3.6. Statistical population

All the requested statistics relate only to third country nationals, defined as "any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 17 (1) of the Treaty, including stateless persons" (Art 2.1 (i) of the Regulation).

Refugees recognized in another Member State and EU nationals applying for international protection are excluded from the scope of the Dublin III Regulation and are therefore not included in these statistics.
3.7. Reference area

Belgium.
3.8. Coverage - Time

Regulation (EC) 862/2007 applies to Dublin statistics collected since 2008. However, the statistical needs have evolved over time and additional disaggregation have been added over the years.

In 2008, the Dublin data collection included:

  • Incoming and outgoing requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred
    • Total number of requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred
    • Total number of taking charge requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred, split in three categories based on the legal provision;
    • Total number of taking back requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred split in four categories based on the legal provision;
  • Incoming and outgoing requests, requests accepted, and refused
    • EURODAC total, split in total number of (accepted/refused of) taking charge requests and (accepted/refused of) taking charge requests;
  • Incoming and outgoing requests
    • Total number of pending incoming/outgoing requests at the end of the reference period;
    • Total number of requests for information and answers to requests for information.
    • Request for re-examination were not counted as a separate request; in case of re-examination, only the final decisions were recorded, not the decision on the initial request.
  • Statistics on transfers did not include successful transfers where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits, without the national authorities organising the actual transfer.


Transfers from the incoming dataset were not transmitted by Belgium in 2008-2011. The total number of transfers from the outgoing dataset could not be transmitted due to a Eurostat technical problem in 2008.

From 2011, data transmitted to Eurostat are produced using a procedure established at the end of 2010 and slightly modified annually from this date. Data for the years of reference 2008 and 2009 were reproduced using these new methods.

These European data differed from previously produced European data that were not in line with article 4.4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007. In particular, they refer to the number of persons concerned by the request, decision and transfer and not anymore to the number of requests, decisions and transfers.

The procedure for identifying pending requests was modified for 2011 data to correct a mistake. As a consequence, 2011 and 2010 data on pending requests are not comparable for this indicator.

The coverage of all statistics was slightly improved for data related to the year of reference 2012. Before 2012, data covered only requests and decisions made by the specific unit in charge of Dublin cases (in charge of the majority of cases).  From 2012, data also include requests and decisions made by other units of the Belgian immigration unit.

In 2015, they were some changes (in application from the 2014 dataset):

  • The numbers of taking charge requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred were split in 14 categories based on the legal provision;
  • The number of requests for information was split in three categories based on legal provision;
  • The number of answers to requests for information was split in three categories based on legal provision (from the new Dublin III regulation), each split in two categories (replies received/sent within 5 weeks or in more than 5 weeks); Belgian data on requests for information were neither  available  by reason nor by  length of time between  the request and the answer.
  • Re-examination requests could be transmitted on a voluntary basis. Belgium was unable to transmit them.
  • For the transfers: total number of incoming pending transfers at the end of the reference period (not transmitted by Belgium before the 2016 dataset) and disaggregation by the time period during which transfer was carried out (within 6 months, within 12 months and within 18 months) were requested.
  • Statistics on sovereignty clause and responsibility by default were introduced, by legal provision (art. 17.1, art. 3.2, 1°, art. 3.2, 2° and 3° and art. 29.2). These statistics were not transmitted by Belgium before the 2016 dataset.


In 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/851 amended Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.

  • Statistics on re-examination requests (requests, legal provision, decisions and transfers) are now mandatory. They are now only available for the incoming dataset ;
  • The Dublin statistics must be disaggregated by sex and by accompanied and unaccompanied minors.
  • An “unknown” category is foreseen for the duration of replies to requests for information;
  • Successful transfers where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits, without the national authorities organising the actual transfer, have to be reported. Belgium is unable to report them.


All information about the current Belgian Dublin data collection are to be found in this document.
3.9. Base period

Not applicable.


4. Unit of measure Top

For most of the statistics, each person is reported individually i.e. in case a request/decision covers several family members each family member is reported individually.

Each submitted or received request/decision and transfer concerning the same person during the same reference year is reported. This implies that one person can be reported more than once during the reference year in the same dataset.

For the categories 'Requests based on a Eurodac hit' and 'Decisions based on a Eurodac hit' all persons covered by these requests/decisions are reported, i.e. including children below 14 who are not fingerprinted.

The statistics relating to requests for information relate to the total of file numbers. Therefore they underestimate the actual number of such requests.


5. Reference Period Top

2022 Calendar year.

The Dublin III data collection consists of annual tables, completed by Belgian data suppliers and sent to Eurostat within three months after the end of the reference year. The first reference year of this data collection is 2008. The first reference year after the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2020/851 amending Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection is 2021.


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

The Immigration Office is - according to art. 51/5 of the law of December 15, 1980 on access to the territory, stay, establishment and removal of foreigners - the competent administrative authority for the application of the Dublin III regulation (Regulation 604/2013) and is therefore designated as the producer of European statistics relating to the Dublin III regulation as foreseen in the article 4.4 of Regulation 862/2007.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, formalized this by communicating the name of the Statistical Service of the Immigration Office as another producer of European statistics, in particular concerning statistics relating to the Dublin III regulation as foreseen in the article 4.4 of Regulation (EC) 862/2007. By this statute of producer of European statistical data, the statistical service of the Immigration Office must therefore be considered as one of the “other Belgian statistical authorities” as defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics.


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

See below.
7.1.1. Information on the existence of a national policy for (not) releasing the Dublin data before a certain time after the end of reference period has passed

All statistical data are published within the regulatory deadlines. No national policy prevents us from publishing statistics before this deadline. Statistics are published when their quality is considered sufficient.
7.1.2. Required confidentiality by law and signed legal confidentiality commitments by survey staff

All the officials of the Immigration Office have signed a declaration aimed at protecting the confidentiality of data.
7.1.3. Potential micro-data access for research purposes by external users and confidentiality provisions applied

Access to micro-data is possible while respecting the general data protection regulation (regulation 2016/679). More information on the procedure implemented in this context can be requested from the Data Protection Officer of the Immigration Office. The contact details are available on the website of the Immigration Office:

In French:
https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themas/over-ons/traitement-des-donnees-caractere-personnel 

In Dutch:
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/about-us/verwerking-van-persoonsgegevens
7.1.4. Procedures for ensuring confidentiality during collection, processing and dissemination, including rules for determining confidential cells

All information relating to the personal data collected and their processing is available on the website of the Immigration Office.

In French:
https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themas/over-ons/traitement-des-donnees-caractere-personnel 

In Dutch:
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/about-us/verwerking-van-persoonsgegevens
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

All information relating to the personal data collected and their processing is available on the website of the Immigration Office.

In French:
https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themas/over-ons/traitement-des-donnees-caractere-personnel 

In Dutch:
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/about-us/verwerking-van-persoonsgegevens


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

Within three months after the end of the reference year.
8.2. Release calendar access

Information relating to the publication calendar is available on the website of the Immigration Office:

In French:
https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themes/chiffres/protection-internationale/statistiques-europeennes/statistiques-dites-dublin

In Dutch:
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/chiffres/protection-internationale/statistiques-europeennes/dublin-statistieken

 
Methodology
The methodology applied is documented on the Eurostat website:

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/fr/migr_dub_esms.htm

Statistics on this topic are updated to reflect data for the previous year within 3 months of the end of the reference year.
8.3. Release policy - user access

Dublin statistics and related information are available on / via the website of the Immigration Office:

In French:
https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themes/chiffres/protection-internationale/statistiques-europeennes/statistiques-dites-dublin

In Dutch:
https://dofi.ibz.be/nl/themes/chiffres/protection-internationale/statistiques-europeennes/dublin-statistieken


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

Dublin statistics are published once a year. In addition, some similar data are disseminated monthly at national level.


10. Accessibility and clarity Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

Annual and monthly publication on Dublin statistics are foreseen for 2022. Limited elements are also included in existing reports at the level of international protection and return.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database

No Belgian online database directly accessible to the public. The statistics are available on the Eurostat website.

Limited elements are available on the Website of the immigration Office:
- https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themes/chiffres/protection-internationale/statistiques-nationales
- https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themes/chiffres/rapports-annuels
- https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/themes/chiffres/eloignement/eloignements-effectifs/statistiques-nationales
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations

Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

This must be agreed upon when signing the memorandum of understanding to access the microdata.
10.5. Dissemination format - other

See below.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations

The metadate are complete and accessible online.
10.6. Documentation on methodology

This document gives some explanations on the methodology used to produce the Dublin statistics. There is also a methodology part at the end of each publication at national level.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate

100%
10.7. Quality management - documentation

The quality assessment is made in this document itself as well as at the end of the monthly reports that is published at national level.


11. Quality management Top
11.1. Quality assurance

Not available.
11.2. Quality management - assessment

Good quality.
11.2.1. Overall quality assessment, at dataset level

 Dataset

 Quality

Details in case of Sufficient or Poor quality

Incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Pending 'Dublin' incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Pending 'Dublin' outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Incoming 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Sufficient quality

These statistics are underestimated due to a technical limitation of the current application used to record the related data. In addition, the legal provision is not available for the same reason. Requests which do not fall under the general reason constitute a minority of cases. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Sufficient quality

These statistics are underestimated due to a technical limitation of the current application used to record the related data. In addition, the legal provision is not available for the same reason. Requests which do not fall under the general reason constitute a minority of cases. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.

Incoming responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

 Sufficient quality

These statistics are underestimated due to a technical limitation of the current application used to record the related data. In addition, some variables (legal provision, duration of response) are not available for the same reason. Requests whose response is sent after five weeks constitute a minority of cases. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.

Outgoing responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

Sufficient quality

These statistics are underestimated due to a technical limitation of the current application used to record the related data. In addition, some variables (legal provision, duration of response) are not available for the same reason. Requests whose response is received after five weeks constitute a minority of cases. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.

Unilateral 'Dublin' decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Decisions on incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Decisions on Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Pending incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

Pending outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

Good quality

 

 

  • Good quality (extensive quality) - all quality requirements are met according to the standard quality criteria and in line with the Technical Guidelines for the data collection of Dublin statistics (Annex).
  • Sufficient quality (acceptable quality) - minimum quality requirements are met: minor issues exist which need to be improved.
  • Poor quality (inadequate quality) - the data do not meet the minimum quality requirements: important/many issues exist which affect the quality of the data and which need to be solved.


12. Relevance Top
12.1. Relevance - User Needs

The statistics collected under Regulation (EC) 862/2007 are used by a wide range of users at national, European and International level to cover various usersʼ needs.

 

Users of Dublin statistics :
The Dublin statistics produced are regularly used by national administrations, academic researchers and civil society groups working essentially on the monitoring of national asylum and immigration procedures.
At European level, the main users of Dublin statistics are Eurostat, EASO and FRONTEX.


Unmet user needs (on statistics) and reasons why these needs cannot be satisfied (at national and international level) :
Some users ask for statistics on variables other than the variables requested by Eurostat. These include statistics on persons detained within the framework of the Dublin procedure, or statistics on decisions to refuse residence with an order to leave the territory taken after receipt of a Dublin agreement. The priority of the service being to provide quality Eurostat statistics, we were therefore not always able to provide a (complete) response to these requests. We have started working on some recurring requests.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Not available.
12.3. Completeness

See below.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate

The following tables have a 50% completeness rate:
- RO (outgoing requests)
- REDACO (outgoing requests based on Eurodac)
- RPENO (outgoing requests)
- DO (decisions on outgoing requests)
- DEDACO (decisions on outgoing requests based on Eurodac)


The following tables have a 100% completeness rate:

- RI (incoming requests)
- REDACI (incoming requests based on Eurodac)
- RPENI (pending incoming requests)
- DI (decisions on incoming requests)
- DEDACI (decisions on incoming requests based on Eurodac)REDACI, 
- TI/TO (incoming/outgoing transfers)
- TPENI/TPENO (incoming pending transfers)
- DUNI (Unilateral decisions)

The tables RINFI/RINFO (incoming/outgoing requests for information) have a 10% completeness rate.
The tables RESO/RESI (incoming/outgoing responses to requests for information) have a 8,75% completeness rate.


You will find more information below.
12.3.2. Completeness by dataset

Incomplete

No information about legal provision, sex and type of applicant. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Completeness is the extent to which all requested Dublin statistics are provided to Eurostat, according to the data provisions foreseen by Articles 4.4. of Regulation (EC) 862/2007 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851) and by the Technical Guidelines for Dublin statistics (Annex).

 

Dataset

Completeness

Details in case of Incomplete, Not available or Not applicable

Incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

Re-examination requests are not yet available. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

Re-examination requests are not yet available. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Pending 'Dublin' incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Pending 'Dublin' outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

Re-examination requests are not yet available. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Incoming 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

 Incomplete

 No information about legal provision, sex and type of applicant. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

No information about legal provision, sex and type of applicant. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Incoming responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

 No information about legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Outgoing responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

No information about legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Unilateral 'Dublin' decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Decisions on incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

Re-examination requests are not yet available. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Decisions on Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Incomplete

Re-examination requests are not yet available. The new database, currently under development, should make it possible to provide this data.

Incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Pending incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

Pending outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

Complete

 

 

  • Complete - The statistics are complete: the dataset and all requested breakdowns are available, as foreseen by Regulation (EC) 862/2007 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851) and the Technical Guidelines for the data collection of Dublin statistics (Annex)
  • Incomplete - The statistics are incomplete: the dataset is available but some of the requested breakdowns are not available, as foreseen by Regulation (EC) 862/2007 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851) and the Technical Guidelines for the data collection of Dublin statistics (Annex)
  • Not available - The statistics are not available: the dataset is not available, that is all the requested breakdowns are missing, as foreseen by Regulation (EC) 862/2007 (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851) and the Technical Guidelines for the data collection of Dublin statistics (Annex)
  • Not applicable - The statistics are Not applicable: the concept/process is not used or it does not exist in the country


13. Accuracy Top
13.1. Accuracy - overall

The accuracy of the Belgian Dublin statistics is high, except for :

              - the 4 datasets concerning the requests for information (incoming and outgoing 'Dublin' requests for information and incoming and outgoing responses to 'Dublin' requests for information), for which the accuracy is low ;

              - the 2 datasets concerning the pending 'Dublin' transfers (both incoming and outgoing), for which the accuracy is good. 

 
13.1.1. Assessment of the accuracy of the national Dublin statistics by dataset

Accuracy is the closeness of the data to the exact or true values that the statistics were intended to measure. Reliability is the closeness of the initial provided value to the subsequent (revised) value.

 

Assessment of the accuracy of the national Dublin statistics, at dataset level

Dataset

Accuracy

Summary of main sources of error in case of Good/Low/Very low Accuracy

Incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

 High

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

  

Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

  

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Pending 'Dublin' incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Pending 'Dublin' outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Incoming 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Low

The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. They therefore underestimate the actual number of such requests. We can only count one request per file, regardless of whether there are several people involved or whether a request is sent to several partner countries. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

Low

 The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. They therefore underestimate the actual number of such requests. We can only count one request per file, regardless of whether there are several people involved or whether a request is sent to several partner countries. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.

Incoming responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

Low

The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. They therefore underestimate the actual number of such requests. We can only count one request per file, regardless of whether there are several people involved or whether a request is sent to several partner countries. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.

Outgoing responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

 Low

The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. They therefore underestimate the actual number of such requests. We can only count one request per file, regardless of whether there are several people involved or whether a request is sent to several partner countries. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.

Unilateral 'Dublin' decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant

High

  

Decisions on incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Decisions on Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

High

 

Pending incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

 Good We are unable to identify when a transfer should be carried out within the 18 months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.

Pending outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

 Good

We are unable to identify when a transfer should be carried out within the 18 months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned. A project is currently being carried out to resolve this problem.
  • High = 100 % accuracy. The reported statistics measure accurately the target population, as foreseen by Regulation (EC) 862/2007 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and as defined in the Technical Guidelines for Dublin statistics (Annex)
  • Good = 95 - 99 % accuracy. The reported statistics do not cover accurately the target population and a small part of the targeted population is missing, or a small part of non-targeted (erroneous) population is included in the reported statistics; the bias/error in the reported statistics is expected to be small
  • Low = 80 - 94 % accuracy. The reported statistics do not cover accurately the target population and a large part of the targeted population is missing, or a large part of non-targeted (erroneous) population is included in the reported statistics; the bias/error in the reported statistics is expected to be large
  • Very low = less than 80 % accuracy. The reported statistics do not cover accurately the target population and a very large part of the targeted population is missing, or a very large part of non-targeted (erroneous) population is included in the reported statistics; the bias/error in the reported statistics is expected to be very large
13.2. Sampling error

None known.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators

Checks are carried out monthly to verify the accuracy of the statistics. This involves, among other things, ensuring that no EU national is included in the statistics.
13.3. Non-sampling error

See below.
13.3.1. Coverage error

See below.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate

See the file ‘Proportion of units (persons) reported in the statistics that do not belong to the target populationʼ in annex.



Annexes:
Proportions of units (persons) reported in the statistics that do not belong to the target population
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion

Not applicable.
13.3.1.3. Assessment of potential coverage errors

Dataset

Coverage errors - Discrepancies from Eurostat target population

Summary of main sources of errors in case of errors and/or discrepancies from Eurostat practice

Incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year) 

Pending 'Dublin' incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Pending 'Dublin' outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

 Relocated persons  might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Incoming 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

< 1-2%

 

Outgoing 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant

< 1-2%

 

Incoming responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

< 1-2%

 

Outgoing responses to 'Dublin' requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant

< 1-2%

 

Unilateral 'Dublin' decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

 

Decisions on incoming 'Dublin' requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Decisions on Incoming 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Decisions on outgoing 'Dublin' requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Incoming 'Dublin' transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

<0,1%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)

Outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant

 <0,1% Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year)
 

<5%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year).
We are also unable to identify when a transfer should be carried out within the 18 months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned.

Pending outgoing 'Dublin' transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant

<5%

Relocated persons might be reported (less than 5 persons per year).
We are also unable to identify when a transfer should be carried out within the 18 months of acceptance of the request by another Member State to take charge or to take back the person concerned.
13.3.1.4. Average lag of registering (to the national database/register) the following administrative events
Event Lag in number of days Details
An incoming Dublin request from a partner country 2 working days Requests are usually registered the day they are received.
An incoming decision from a partner country accepting the request to take back/charge a person 1-2 working day(s) Decisions are usually registered the day they are received.
A decision made by the national authority to accept or to reject a request from a partner country to take charge/back a person 1-2 working day(s) Decisions are usually registered the day they are sent.
13.3.2. Measurement error

Sample or systematic tests are carried out twice a month for unaccompanied minors and accompanied children. Statistics relating to decisions and agreements are also compared to transfer decisions, and decision deadlines are checked in order to add any missing decisions.
Any errors detected are corrected as quickly as possible, and before data transmission to Eurostat.
13.3.3. Non response error

Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate

Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate

Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error

Sample or systematic tests are carried out twice a month for unaccompanied minors and accompanied children. Statistics relating to decisions and agreements are also compared to transfer decisions, and decision deadlines are checked in order to add any missing decisions.

Annual Dublin data are consolidated once a year. They are drawn for the first time on a temporary basis, in order to isolate the problematic data and to correct them. When the corrections are made, these statistics are drawn definitively.

However, when requesting statistics by third parties or for the pilot studies, statistics sent to Eurostat may be examined from an unusual angle or the statistics for the previous year can be compiled again.
If we find an error or a significant difference with the data transmitted to Eurostat, a correction will be made to the transmitted statistics.
13.3.5. Model assumption error

Not applicable.


14. Timeliness and punctuality Top
14.1. Timeliness

See below concepts 14.1.1 and 14.1.2.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result

- Number of days (on average) after the end of the reference period at which the country is able to report the first/preliminary data, at the earliest : 15 days.

- Reasons for possible long production of the first/preliminary data and plans to improve the situation : Absence, including for the agents of the service responsible for encoding, technical problem with the Dublin application or other technical problems.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result

- Number of days (on average) after the end of the reference period at which the country is able to report the final data, at the earliest : 

 Approximately 75 days after the end of the reference period.

- Reasons for possible long production of the final data and plans to improve the situation : 

Correction time is required to verify and consolidate the data. If a technical problem arises with the Dublin application during the last encoding, corrections or compilation of statistics, it will be impossible to provide the corrected and consolidated data on time.
All data is backed up monthly by the Statistics department, and the IT department is working on creating a new, more stable application, adapted to new Eurostat requirements.
14.2. Punctuality

All data is transmitted on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication

All data is transmitted on time.


15. Coherence and comparability Top
15.1. Comparability - geographical

See below.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient

The Coefficient of Asymmetry for outgoing requests for the 2019 dataset is 0,18.
The Coefficient of Asymmetry for incoming requests for the 2019 dataset is 0,06.
The global Coefficient of Asymmetry for the 2019 dataset is 0,15.
15.1.2. Assessment of possible sources of lack of comparability between countries

Assessment of possible sources of lack of comparability between countries, due to discrepancies from Eurostat concepts, definitions or due to differences in methods.

 

# Topic Response  Explanatory details and assessment of the magnitude of error (where applicable)
1 Does the country report all persons individually (e.g. in case of families all persons must be reported individually)? Not for the requests for information The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. Therefore they underestimate the actual number of such requests. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.
2 Does the country report each request/decision/transfer concerning the same person during the same year (even if multiple requests/decisions/transfers are made for the same person during the year)? Yes  
3 For the data on “Requests based on Eurodac hit” and “Decisions based on Eurodac hit”, does the country report also children below 14 years old who are not fingerprinted? Yes  
4 In case a request for a person involves more than one partner countries, does the country report all requests it sent/received to/from all the partner countries involved? Yes, except for the requests for information Yes, except for the requests for information. The statistics on requests for information relate to the number of file numbers. Therefore they underestimate the actual number of such requests. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.
5 Where the request is accepted based on a different legal basis from the one on which the request was sent, does the country report the data based on the article (legal basis) on which the request is accepted? Yes  
6 Does the country report only successful incoming transfers (i.e. only those where the country has effectively received the person on its territory)? Yes  
7 Does the country report only successful outgoing transfers (i.e. those for which the country has undertaken all appropriate measures in order to send a transferee to another Member State)? Yes  
8 Does the country report transfers for cases where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits (without the country organizing the actual transfer)? No  
9 Does the country report requests sent/received by mistake (i.e. when the actual partner country should have been different than the one intended)? No  
10 Does the country report a person as adult or minor according to the age of the person at the date of the respective administrative event (e.g. the person was minor at the date of the request, but at the date of transfer the person was not a minor anymore)? Yes  
11 Does the country carry out the Dublin/Eurodac check before the formal registration of the asylum application? No  
12 For the data of “Article 3.2 first paragraph – Responsible by default: no prior criteria applicable”, does the country report any applicant for which the Dublin criteria do not apply? This means any person who applied for protection in the reporting country, as a first Member State of application, and for whom no Dublin criteria applied for him/her to be taken charge of by another Member State.

Yes

 
13 Does the country report under the data of “Decisions on incoming requests” positive decisions accepting a request implicitly? Yes  
14 Does the country report under the data of “Decisions on outgoing requests” positive decisions accepting a request implicitly? Yes  
15 Does the country report under the data of “Decisions on incoming requests bases on Eurodac” positive decisions accepting a request implicitly? Yes  
16 Does the country report under the data of “Decisions on outgoing requests bases on Eurodac” positive decisions accepting a request implicitly? Yes  
17 For the data of Transfers, in case of different legal basis between the request and the positive decision to accept the responsibility to examine the application, does the country report the legal ground (LEG_PROV) on which the decision (acceptance of request) was based on? Yes  
18 Does the country report under 'Incoming pending transfers' cases where the partner country did not implement the transfer within the foreseen time limits (Article 29.2)? No  
19 Does the country report under ‘Outgoing pending transfers' cases where the country did not implement the transfer within the foreseen time limits (Article 29.2)? No  
15.2. Comparability - over time

Regulation (EC) 862/2007 applies to Dublin statistics collected since 2008. However, the statistical needs have evolved over time and additional disaggregation have been added over the years.

In 2008, the Dublin data collection included:

  • Incoming and outgoing requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred
    • Total number of requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred
    • Total number of taking charge requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred, split in three categories based on the legal provision;
    • Total number of taking back requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred split in four categories based on the legal provision;
  • Incoming and outgoing requests, requests accepted, and refused
    • EURODAC total, split in total number of (accepted/refused of) taking charge requests and (accepted/refused of) taking charge requests;
  • Incoming and outgoing requests
    • Total number of pending incoming/outgoing requests at the end of the reference period;
    • Total number of requests for information and answers to requests for information.
    • Request for re-examination were not counted as a separate request; in case of re-examination, only the final decisions were recorded, not the decision on the initial request.  
  • Statistics on transfers did not include successful transfers where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits, without the national authorities organising the actual transfer.


Transfers from the incoming dataset were not transmitted by Belgium in 2008 -2011. The total number of transfers from the outgoing dataset could not be transmitted due to a Eurostat technical problem in 2008.

From 2011, data transmitted to Eurostat are produced using a procedure established at the end of 2010 and slightly modified annually from this date. Data for the years of reference 2008 and 2009 were reproduced using these new methods.

These European data differed from previously produced European data that were not in line with article 4.4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007. In particular, they refer to the number of persons concerned by the request, decision and transfer and not anymore to the number of requests, decisions and transfers.
The procedure for identifying pending requests was modified for 2011 data to correct a mistake. As a consequence, 2011 and 2010 data on pending requests are not comparable for this indicator.

The coverage of all statistics was slightly improved for data related to the year of reference 2012. Before 2012, data covered only requests and decisions made by the specific unit in charge of Dublin cases (in charge of the majority of cases).  From 2012, data also include requests and decisions made by other units of the Belgian immigration unit.

In 2015, they were some changes (in application from the 2014 dataset):

  • The numbers of taking charge requests, requests accepted, refused and transferred were split in 14 categories based on the legal provision;
  • The number of requests for information was split in three categories based on legal provision;
  • The number of answers to requests for information was split in three categories based on legal provision (from the new Dublin III regulation), each split in two categories (replies received/sent within 5 weeks or in more than 5 weeks); Belgian data on requests for information were neither  available  by reason nor by  length of time between  the request and the answer.
  • Re-examination requests could be transmitted on a voluntary basis. Belgium was unable to transmit them.
  • For the transfers: total number of incoming pending transfers at the end of the reference period (not transmitted by Belgium before the 2016 dataset) and disaggregation by the time period during which transfer was carried out (within 6 months, within 12 months and within 18 months) were requested.
  • Statistics on sovereignty clause and responsibility by default were introduced, by legal provision (art. 17.1, art. 3.2, 1°, art. 3.2, 2° and 3° and art. 29.2). These statistics were not transmitted by Belgium before the 2016 dataset.


In 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/851 amended Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.

  • Statistics on re-examination requests (requests, legal provision, decisions and transfers) are now mandatory. They are now only available for the incoming dataset ;
  • The Dublin statistics must be disaggregated by sex and by accompanied and unaccompanied minors.
  • An “unknown” category is foreseen for the duration of replies to requests for information;
  • Successful transfers where the applicant otherwise travelled back to the Member State responsible on its own within the transfer time limits, without the national authorities organising the actual transfer, have to be reported. Belgium is unable to report them.


All information about the current Belgian Dublin data collection are to be found in this document.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series

Regarding the working method, the statistics are comparable from 2012:

  • use of the Dublin application to encode Dublin cases ;
  • registering of applicants for international protection and people staying illegally on the Belgium territory, who were in a Dublin procedure;
  • reference to the number of people and not of files (except for the requests for information).

Statistics on pending transfers and on sovereignty and responsibility by default are only available from 2016.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain

Not applicable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics

Monthly statistics sent to EASO are slightly different from the annual statistic because we do not correct this data set after it is sent to EASO. These are operational data.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts

Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal

Dublin statistics on requests to take back or charge, decisions and transfers are coming from the same application, with the same technical requirements, and are therefore coherent.
For the Dublin statistics on requests for information, the statistical unit is the file and not the person.
Statistic on unilateral decision are not linked with the Dublin application. We can only count the persons when their asylum application is effectively transmitted to the CGRS and not, for art. 29.2, when the deadline for the transfer is over.


16. Cost and Burden Top

Not available.


17. Data revision Top
17.1. Data revision - policy

See below.
17.1.1. Description of the national revision policy for Dublin statistics

Annual Dublin data are consolidated once a year. They are drawn for the first time on a temporary basis, in order to isolate the problematic data and to correct them. When the corrections are made, these statistics are drawn definitively.
17.1.2. Number of revisions planned on average
Data revision practice National practice  Further details (if necessary)
Average number of planned revisions performed during a year (for latest reference year) 1  
Average number of unplanned revisions performed during a year (usually caused by the discovery of a mistake) 1  
Main reasons for revisions (new source data are becoming available, new methods/concepts, etc.) and extent to which the revisions improved the accuracy of the data When requesting statistics by third parties, statistics sent to Eurostat may be examined from an unusual angle or the statistics for the previous year can be compiled again.
If we find an error or a significant difference with the data transmitted to Eurostat, a correction will be made to the transmitted statistics.		  
Where the request is accepted based on a different legal basis from the one on which the request was sent, Member States have to report their data based on the article (legal basis) on which the request is accepted.

As far it is possible, this applies also to the data on outgoing and incoming requests. In case the requests are submitted/received in a different reference year than the decision was taken, data on requests shall be revised accordingly by both countries.

Does the country revise its data according to the above guidance?

 The legal basis are not systematically corrected during the year.
Indeed, final statistics are usually compiled at the beginning of March. This means that we have received / sent a response to almost all the requests sent / received in the previous year, including those of December. We are therefore already adapting the article of the requests according to the article used in the Dublin agreement received or sent.		  
17.1.3. Description of the main reasons for revisions

When requesting statistics by third parties, statistics sent to Eurostat may be examined from an unusual angle. We also sometimes receive very specific requests, over several months (for example at the request of EASO). In this case, the statistics for the previous year can be compiled again.
If we find an error or a significant difference with the data transmitted to Eurostat, a correction will be made to the transmitted statistics.
17.2. Data revision - practice

See below.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size

The size of revision gives an idea of the stability of the data while direction is important to understand whether preliminary data tend to overestimate or underestimate the real target population.

For the 2021 data set, the statistics on requests for information have been revised downwards (-1.3%) due to a copy-paste error.


18. Statistical processing Top
18.1. Source data

The three main data sources for producing the Dublin statistics are the Dublin app (used by the services in charge of applying the Regulation (EC) 604/2013), the National Register ("Registre national" in French, a Central Population Register) and the database of the Immigration Office ("Evibel").

The main data extracted from the National Register to produce the Dublin statistics is the general variables related to the characteristics of persons (citizenship, sex, date of birth…).

The main data extracted from the database of the Immigration Office to complete the data extracted from the National Register are :

  • the characteristics of accompanied minors (citizenship, sex, date of birth);
  • data related to the unilateral 'Dublin' decisions (decision and type of decision).

All other information relating to the Dublin procedure is taken from the Dublin application.
18.2. Frequency of data collection

Data is collected continuously and is consolidated monthly (operational data). Data for the whole year is again consolidated, checked and corrected before transmission to Eurostat.
18.3. Data collection

Data regarding the 'Dublin' requests is registered in the Dublin App by the Dublin Unit and is then automatically linked with the database of the Immigration Office and the National Register. However, for some more recent data and disaggregations a manual check in the database of the Immigration Office is still needed. This concerns :


             • the characteristics of accompanied minors (citizenship, sex, date of birth);
             • data related to the unilateral 'Dublin' decisions (decision and type of decision).


Data is collected continuously and is consolidated monthly (operational data). Data for the whole year is again consolidated, checked and corrected before transmission to Eurostat.
18.4. Data validation

Data is consolidated monthly (operational data). Different checks are performed at the begin of each month, and the Dublin Unit or the IT services make the necessary corrections and adjunctions. Then, the data is consolidated and the statistics are sent to the services concerned, which can still provide their comments before the publication of the national statistics on the website of the Immigration Office.

Data for the whole year is again consolidated, checked and corrected before final consolidation and transmission to Eurostat.
18.4.1. Validation procedures
Validation activity Performed Periodicity Details (methods and tools)
Check that the population coverage is accurate, as required according to the definitions of the Technical guidelines (Annex) Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Compare the data with data of previous periods Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Check for outliers Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Investigate inconsistencies in the statistics (checking the consistency of "Total" values over each variable) Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Verify the statistics against expectations and domain intelligence Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Confront the data against other relevant data (e.g. Asylum statistics, of the mirror data from the partner countries) Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
Check retrospectively (a sample of) the data in the register/database in order to confirm they are accurate Yes Monthly Via procedures established in SAS and manual checks in the national register and the database of the Immigration Office.
18.5. Data compilation

For Dublin statistics on requests to take back or charge, decisions and transfers: data from the Dublin application, Evibel (the database of the Immigration Office) and the National Register is injected by ICT into a Data Warehouse from which the data is imported and examined in SAS. These data are then processed and any inconsistencies identified are sent to the competent service for correction. After correction, the data are processed, validated and the results are transmitted (monthly to EASO, annually to Eurostat).
For the Dublin statistics on requests for information: it is possible to draw summary statistics through the data warehouse. A new application, which should solve this problem, is in development.
Data on unilateral decision come from an SQL report produced by the ICT, which is sourced from Evibel and the National Register. This report is then subject to manual verification by officers of the Dublin unit in the database of the Immigration Office, then imported into SAS for further verifications, correction and validation.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate

Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment

Not applicable.


19. Comment Top


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top
Eurostat Guidelines on Dublin statistics - v. 3.1 - 2021