Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The number of asylum applications received in the European Union, Norway and Switzerland dropped by over 11 % in 2024, with applications from Afghans, Syrians and Turks all declining significantly. Germany reportedly continued to welcome the most applications in the EU+, these were less by one third last year.
An annual analysis has been published by the European Union Agency for Asylum, regarding asylum trends in 2024.
According to the analysis, around 1,014,000 asylum applications were welcomed in the European Union. Asylum seekers from Syrians (151,000), Turks (56,000) and Afghans (87,000) each declined. The figures are compared to 2023.
Which nationalities saw the biggest drop in asylum requests?
There were significant shifts in requests for Latin American citizenships as well in 2024. Venezuelans launched a record number of applications, accounting for around 9 % compared to 2023; while asylum seekers from Colombians (52,000) dropped by almost a fifth – 18 % in 2024.
Germany welcomed the most asylum applications in the EU+, though the number was a third descending – 29 %, year-over-year. While Spain, Italy and France acquired rather equal numbers of asylum applications in 2024, at approximately 16 % of the EU+ total, each of these Member States fronted new dynamics.
Moreover, Ukrainians filed particularly more asylum applications in 2024 in the EU+, increased by 90 % compared to 2023; half did so in France and one quarter in Poland. The number of Ukrainian applications accepted in 2024 was reminiscent of initial formations in 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine started.
Cyprus has historically received the highest number of applications per capita. By the end of 2024, Greece received 74, 000 the 2nd most applications per capita.
In 2024, the European Union recognition rate stood steady at 42 %. The Syrian recognition rate has been exceeding 90% for most of the last two years. Contrarily, the Afghan recognition rate remained at 63 % at EU+ level, and there was considerable variation throughout EU+ nations including Germany (41 %), Belgium (39 %), France (67 %), Austria (76%), Greece (98 %). And Switzerland (90 %). EU+ countries managed to grant refugee status more frequently than subsidiary protection.
Further, the EUAA reports that in 2024 nearly half of all applications obtained 48 % were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is downward. Citizenships in this pack included Moroccan, Bangladeshi, and Tunisian nationals.
