Assessing and identifying special protection needs among refugees in the EU: Overview and Synthesis of Evidence and Policy Recommendations

Niklas Nutsch, Maren Hintermeier, Andreas W. Gold, Clara Perplies, Nils Robson, Veronika Wiemker, Till Bärnighausen, Sven Rohleder and Kayvan Bozorgmehr
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Maren Hintermeier: University Heidelberg

No j3dfe_v1, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: The EU’s Reception Conditions Directive requests member states to identify special protection needs among asylum seekers and refugees, but assessment practices remain inconsistently implemented across Europe. We systemically searched scientific and grey literature and synthesised evidence of 81 eligible documents to identify recommendations for assessing special protection needs and their implications for policy and practice. The evidence indicates that vulnerability, which may necessitate special protection, is multidimensional, intersectional, and dynamic. This requires early, continuous, and multimethod assessment rather than one-off screening. Effective assessment systems combine standardised procedures with individualised assessment, referral pathways, and multidisciplinary collaboration. We identified 51 screening tools, however, no single tool was universally accepted and used, highlighting that implementation depends less on individual tools than on coordinated, person-centred systems supported by rights-based documentation, informed consent, and secure information sharing. These findings provide evidence-informed directions for strengthening assessment of special protection needs systems across the EU.

Date: 2026-09-27
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:j3dfe_v1

DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/j3dfe_v1

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