During the second quarter of 2016 (from April to June 2016), 305,700 people issued an initial request for international protection in the member states of the EU, representing an increase of 6% compared to the first quarter of 2016 (287,100 initial asylum applications), the statistical office of the EU (Eurostat) announced on Thursday 22 September.
Accounting for nearly 90,500 initial applications over this period, Syrians by far represent the largest group of people asking for protection in the EU, followed by Afghans and Iraqis. These three nationalities put together represent 60% of all applications.
According to Eurostat, six out of ten asylum seekers made their applications in Germany. Italy comes second (9%), followed by France (6%), Hungary (5%) and Greece (4%). The number of first arrivals increased the most in Greece and Hungary compared to the same period in 2015, by 132% and 118% respectively. There were also considerable increases in Poland and Spain. The number of applications fell in the Nordic countries, Belgium and Austria. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)