EU+ asylum applications decreased by 11% in 2024 y/y
The number of asylum applications received in the EU+ (EU+ refers to the 27 European Union member states, plus Norway and Switzerland) decreased by 11 per cent in 2024, with applications from Syrians, Afghans and Turks all decreasing significantly, the European Union Agency for Asylum said in its annual report, released on March 3.
While Germany continued to receive the most applications in the EU+, these were down by one third last year.
Cyprus continued to receive the most applications per capita.
In 2024, almost half of all received applications (48 per cent) were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is low (≤ 20 per cent).
About 1 014 000 asylum applications were received in the EU+1, an 11 per cent decrease year-over-year.
Several of the main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+ each recorded a significant decrease in 2024.
Applications from Syrians (151 000), Afghans (87 000), and Turks (56 000), each decreased by 17 per cent, 24 per cent and 45 per cent, respectively, compared to 2023.
Latin American citizenships also recorded notable changes in protection requests in 2024. Venezuelans (74 000) lodged a record number of applications, up by around a tenth (nine per cent) compared to 2023; while applications from Colombians (52 000) decreased by almost a fifth (- 18 per cent) in 2024. Taken together, not only did these two nationalities account for a majority of all visa-free applicants in the EU+, they also represented over three fifths of applicants in Spain.
After a surge of boat arrivals in the Canary Islands, Malians (17 000) and Senegalese (14 000) both lodged more than twice as many applications in the EU+, compared to 2023.
In 2024, Germany (237 000) again received the most asylum applications in the EU+, though the number was a third lower (- 29 per cent), year-over-year. While Spain (166 000), Italy (159 000) and France (159 000) received rather similar numbers of asylum applications in 2024, at around 16 per cent of the EU+ total, each; these member states were faced with new dynamics, the agency said.
For example, Peruvians (27 000), who continued to lodge significant numbers of applications in the EU+, shifted to applying mostly in Italy in 2024, where they became the second most populous citizenship.
However, the number of asylum applications received does not convey the full measure of protection needs in the EU+.
In December 2024, around 4.4 million persons displaced from the Russian invasion of Ukraine were receiving temporary protection. Ukrainians (27 000) lodged significantly more asylum applications in 2024 in the EU+, up by 90 per cent compared to 2023; half did so in France and one quarter in Poland. The number of Ukrainian applications received in 2024 was reminiscent of initial figures in 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began.
Evaluating which EU+ countries receive the most applications for asylum is important, but a simple like-for-like comparison is not always appropriate because their asylum and reception capacities can vary, the agency said. Cyprus (6 800) has long been the recipient of the most applications per capita.
By the end of 2024, Greece (74 000) received the 2nd most applications per capita. In 2024, both countries received around one application for every 140 residents.
(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)
Please support The Sofia Globe’s independent journalism by becoming a subscriber to our page on Patreon:
