The case concerned the delays of the Federal Office for Asylum (BAMF) to take a decision in an asylum application where the respective applicant is pending transfer to Greece, having been granted international protection there. The BAMF has requested specific assurances in terms of proper accommodation for the applicant to the Greek authorities by communications of 13 May and 2 June 2020.

The Administrative Court of Hannover considered that in the absence of a reply from Greek authorities to an inquiry on assurances for the applicant within a reasonable timeframe, precisely 6 months, BAMF shall proceed to the examination of the asylum application without awaiting for the receipt of individual assurances or a reply from the Greek authorities.

The Administrative Court took into consideration the availability of plenty of up-to-date reports and information on the situation of beneficiaries of international protection in Greece, including developments related to the COVID-19 situation. A one-year procedural delay for assessing an application was not justified in this case, in the absence of particular difficulties to clarify the facts of the case.