13/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – The number of asylum applications lodged in 2018 has returned to the 2014 level, down 10% compared to 2017, according to data published on 13 February by the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The data also show a lower rate of accepted applications (34% compared to 40% in 2017) with one positive decision out of three. In 2018, 634,700 asylum applications were lodged in the EU. Syria remains the leading country of origin of candidates, but is down 25% compared to 2017. More than one in ten candidates was a Syrian national in 2018 compared to one in four in 2015-2016. Afghanistan and Iraq are the other two main countries of origin. It should be noted that representatives of certain nationalities submitted more applications than usual, including Turkish, Iranian and Venezuelan citizens, but also Georgians and Colombians. (SP)