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Asylum applications in EU soar by 18%, reigniting European debate
Asylum applications in the EU are at the highest level since 2015-2016.
FILE PHOTO: Migrants leave the arrival center for asylum seekers at Berlin's Reinickendorf district, Germany, October 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo
In 2023, asylum applications within the European Union surged by 18% to reach 1.14 million, marking the highest level since the migrant crisis of 2015-2016, as per data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
European debate on migration intensifies
This information, released on Wednesday, is anticipated to intensify the ongoing debate on migration and far-right sentiment ahead of European elections that will take place in June. Syrians and Afghans continued to be the largest groups of applicants, with a notable rise in asylum applications from Turkish nationals, making them the third-largest applicant group with an 82% increase from the previous year.
Despite 2023 asylum applications being slightly below 2016 levels, the numbers add to the challenges, especially as they coincide with the 4.4 million Ukrainians seeking refuge from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the EU. Germany remained the top destination for asylum seekers, receiving almost a third of all applications, while Cyprus had the highest number of applications relative to its population.
EU implemented stricter border controls since 2016
The data from EUAA comes after Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency, registered the highest increase in irregular border crossings since 2016. These elevated levels have sparked discussions on managing migration, with concerns raised by some local authorities about being overwhelmed. The European Union has implemented stricter border controls and asylum laws since the 2015-2016 crisis and has also engaged in agreements with regions like the Middle East and North Africa to encourage people to stay there rather than migrating to the EU.
