2023-09-05 08:00:28
Asylum applications registered in European Union countries, Norway and Switzerland in the first half of 2023 increased by 28% compared to the first six months of 2022, announced the European Union Agency for Refugees. asylum (AUEA), Tuesday 5 September.
Some 519,000 asylum applications were lodged in these 29 countries between January and the end of June, according to the agency, which estimates that, “based on current trends, requests could exceed 1 million by the end of the year”. Syrians, Afghans, Venezuelans, Turks and Colombians are the main applicants, accounting for 44% of requests.
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Demand for the first semester is the highest this time of year since 2015-2016. During the influx of refugees in Europe caused in particular by the stalemate of the conflict in Syria, the number of asylum applications had reached 1.3 million (in 2015) and 1.2 million (in 2016). In 2022, they were 994,945.
Germany is the country that received the most applications (30%). This is almost twice as much as Spain (17%) and France (16%). The AUEA points out that due to this increase in many European countries “are under pressure to process requests”and that the number of cases awaiting decision has increased by 34% compared to 2022.
In the first instance, 41% of requests received a positive response. In addition, some 4 million Ukrainians fleeing the invading Russian army are currently enjoying temporary protection in the EU.
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