Brussels, 08/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The latest annual report - for 2014 - from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) published on Wednesday 8 July confirmed the record rise in asylum requests. More than 660,000 requests for international protection were received by the 28 EU member states, plus Norway and Switzerland. Of these, 128,000 were from Syrian nationals.
The 660,000 asylum applications is a 43% increase on 2013 and a record number since data were first gathered in 2008, EASO states. Of these requests, 90% were first-time applications, EASO adds. Over the first three months of 2015, the number of first applications for international protection in the EU has remained stable against the last quarter of 2014 at 185,000 first-time asylum seekers, according to a report by Eurostat, the EU statistical office (see EUROPE 11339).
It comes as no surprise that, in 2014, asylum request came mainly from Syrian nationals, followed by nationals of the combined Western Balkans states (numbering 110,000) and Eritrea. Afghanistan, too, is one of the main countries of origin of asylum seekers, with 42,745 applications for protection.
The countries that received the largest number of requests were Germany, Sweden, Italy, France and Hungary. The EASO notes, too, that, at the end of 2014, more than 500,000 people were awaiting a decision on their asylum application, up 37% on 2013.
EASO also confirms in its report an increase in the number of asylum requests from Ukrainians - over 14,000, with Ukrainians tending to travel to all the countries of the EU rather than to just certain areas.
The Asylum Support Office, through its Executive Director Robert K. Visser, also noted on Wednesday that asylum applications submitted by Syrians were handled in very similar fashion throughout the EU, most member states willingly granting protection.
There was a similarly consistent response to applications from nationals of the Western Balkans, Kosovars and Serbs in particular, but in the opposite direction, said Visser, almost all requests submitted being rejected.
“Hotspots” operational in Sicily from 14 July. Visser said that, in 2014, the agency had provided assistance in Greece, Bulgaria, Italy and Cyprus and that the support would continue in Greece no matter how events unfolding in the eurozone turn out. Hungary is also likely to receive EASO assistance.
Visser said that “hotspots”, Commission measures to offer relief to the “front line” states, would begin operating in Sicily from Tuesday of next week. EASO and Frontex experts initially, and member state experts will be on the ground to help the Italian authorities manage asylum requests.
The idea behind the “hotspots”, in which the Europol agency will also be involved, is to make a “selection” among the asylum seekers of those whose request is likely to be successful and those who should be returned to their countries of origin. (Solenn Paulic)