The recently approved refugee law contains, inter alia, provisions establishing the rights and duties of asylum seekers. It also outlines broad criteria for the denial of asylum. Asylum can be refused, for example, if the applicant has a criminal record or is deemed a threat to state security. Estonia becomes the second Baltic country to adopt legislation regulating asylum procedures, following Lithuania, which adopted a Law on Refugees on July 4, 1995. A shortage of funds has delayed full implementation of the Lithuanian law.
Some experts expect financial problems to similarly hamper implementation of the Estonian measures.
EU officials have stated that Baltic legislation must be harmonized with Western standards for the three states to be viable candidates for EU membership.