EU ASYLUM APPLICATIONS RISE TO SEVEN-YEAR HIGH

Thu 28 February 2024:

In 2023, the European Union got the most asylum applications since the 2015–16 immigration crisis.

According to a report released on Tuesday by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), more than 1.14 million individuals applied for international protection within the European Union in 2023. The data shows how the bloc is under increasing strain from wars that are being waged closer to home and has the potential to strengthen the position of nationalist politics.

Syrians continued to lodge the most applications, with Afghans remaining the second largest applicant group, albeit with significantly fewer applications than the previous year. An increase in Palestinian applications was also noted towards the end of the year.

Analysis released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) reveals notable shifts in the asylum landscape within the EU+. In 2023, EU+ countries lodged over 1 140 000 applications for asylum, an increase of 18 % compared to 2022[1] . Germany (334 000) continued to receive the most applications by far, in absolute terms; though Cyprus (12 000) was under the most pressure, relative to its population size.

Still, the report also highlighted some shifting trends.

Although the number of 2023 asylum applications was below the 2015-16 levels, the effect of increased levels of violence and warfare on the EU’s doorstep is clear.

The 1.1 million asylum applications came on top of refuge given to 4.4 million Ukrainians. Fleeing Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians do not need to formally apply for international protection in the bloc.

The report also noted an increase in requests by Palestinians towards the end of the year, following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October, which killed more than 1,100 people and saw about 240 taken captive.

The assault has triggered a brutal response, with Israeli forces killing more than 29,000 people in Gaza. The conflict has also unleashed tension and violence in the occupied West Bank, and further across the region.

The growing number of asylum seekers is likely to further inflame debates across European countries, where nationalist parties and far-right governments have long been riding public discontent over migration policies.

In a bid to diffuse the tension, the EU pushed through a landmark agreement in December on new rules designed to share the cost and work of hosting migrants more evenly, and to limit the numbers of people coming in.

However, seeking to continue to benefit, nationalists insist that the new rules do not go far enough.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

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