Brussels, 19/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - In 2013, EU member states gave protection to 135,700 asylum seekers, compared to 116,200 in 2012, Eurostat announced on Thursday 19 June, on the eve of World Refugee Day. Syrian refugees represented one quarter of all people who obtained protection, with 35,800 people, followed by Afghans (16,400) and Somalis (9,700). Of the 35,800 Syrians who were granted protection status in the EU of 28, more than 60% were registered in Sweden (12,000) and Germany (9,600), Eurostat adds. Of the 16,400 Afghans benefiting from protection, more than three quarters were granted it in Germany (5,000), Austria and Sweden (2,300 each), Italy (1,600) and Belgium (1,500). As for the 9,700 Somalis, 2,800 were registered in the Netherlands, 1,700 in Sweden and 1,600 in Italy.
In all, 70% of the protection statuses were granted in five member states: Sweden (26,400), Germany (26,100), France (16,200), Italy (14,500) and the United Kingdom (13,400). Of the 135,700 people who obtained protection status in 2013, 64,500 were granted refugee status (47% of all positive decisions), 50,900 subsidiary protection (37%) and 20,400 a residence permit on humanitarian grounds (15%).
In addition, the member states of the EU28 also received 4,800 resettled refugees. (SP)