EU sees 18% surge in asylum applications, highest since 2015 crisis

Asylum applications in the EU reach 1.14 million in 2023, sparking debates on migration policies ahead of upcoming elections

Asylum applications in the European Union saw a significant increase of 18% in 2023, reaching 1.14 million, according to data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

This marks the highest level since the migrant crisis of 2015-2016.

The largest applicant groups remained Syrians and Afghans. There was a new trend with Turkish nationals being the third-largest applicant group, with a notable 82% increase in applications compared to the previous year.

Additionally, the number of Palestinians seeking asylum reached a record high of nearly 11,600 in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

However, accurate registration of their numbers poses a challenge as a majority of EU member countries do not formally recognize Palestine as a state.

Germany continued to be the primary destination for asylum seekers in the EU, receiving close to one-third of all applications. On a per capita basis, Cyprus received the highest number of applications, with one for every 78 inhabitants.

Although the 2023 asylum application figures are slightly below those of 2016, they come alongside the 4.4 million Ukrainians who sought refuge in the European Union during the war.

Highest since 2015-2016 crisis

This data from EUAA arrives shortly after Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency, reported the most significant increase in irregular border crossings since 2016. The heightened levels of migration have sparked discussions on managing and reducing these numbers, particularly as some local authorities express being overwhelmed.

This new data is expected to intensify the ongoing debate surrounding migration and the rise of far-right sentiments, especially with various local and national elections approaching across the continent, along with European Parliament elections in June.

In response to the 2015-2016 crisis, the European Union has implemented stricter measures on external borders and asylum laws.

Additionally, the EU has engaged in agreements with countries in the Middle East and North Africa to encourage individuals to stay in those regions.

Source: Newsroom

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