The goal of the study “Services Provided for Asylum Seekers with Special Needs in Estonia in Comparison to the European Union Legislation and Practices in Other Member States” is to analyse reception conditions in Estonia for asylum seekers with special needs in comparison to the EU Directive 2003/9/EC and the practices of other member states.

Estonian law defines asylum seeker as a foreigner who has submitted an application for asylum for which Police and Border Guard Board has not made a decision on. Asylum seekers with special needs are defined by European Union Directive 2003/9/EC as underage children, unaccompanied minors, disabled and elderly people, pregnant women, single parents with children and torture and rape victims, also persons who have been subject to other forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence.

The output of the project will be a analytical report, which contains analysis of survey results as well as proposals for changing law on giving international protection to foreigners in the area of reception conditions for persons with special needs. In addition, proposals will be formulated for state and local government agencies and citizens’ associations for the improvement of measures and conditions for receiving asylum seekers with special needs. The project ends in May 2011.

Research conducted is as follows:

• Comparative analysis of Estonian and European Union legislation;
• Mapping of services provided (and organisations) for asylum seekers;
• Survey on best practices from five EU member states;
• A satisfaction survey of the target group and service providers.

The research is financed by the European Refugee Fund and Estonian Ministry of the Interior.