For the first time since 2015, the number of asylum applications lodged in the EU in 2019 was higher than the previous year, the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) said on Wednesday 26 February.
The increase in filings was 13% compared to 2018 and, a new development according to the EASO, this increase is related more to applications from nationals of countries with visa facility with the EU than to strict illegal immigration, the agency writes in a release.
More than 714,000 applications were filed in the EU and Schengen associated countries in 2019, an increase of 13% compared to 2018, when fewer than 635,000 applications were registered, notes the EASO. "Today's figures highlight that while we remain well below the situation of a few years ago, we need to continue to be vigilant and strengthen our asylum practices", said Nina Gregori, Director of the Office.
The top three countries of origin of the candidates were Syria (about 72,000), Afghanistan (60,000) and Venezuela (45,000). Afghans applied for asylum in far greater numbers than a year earlier, as did Venezuelans, who filed more than twice as many claims (about 22,000 claims in 2018).
The Agency notes that the increase in applications is mainly due to the rise in applications from visa-exempt countries, particularly in Latin America, including Venezuelans, nationals of Colombia, El Salvador and Honduras.
Parallel to this increase, the number of positive decisions in response to asylum applications remained stable in 2019, with a recognition rate of 33% and very low rates for visa-liberalised countries.
Link to statistics: https://bit.ly/2vicA7w (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)