Asylum applications in the European Union fell by around 12 percent in 2024, according to a new report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).
Just over one million initial applications were recorded last year by the Malta-based agency across the 27 EU member nations, along with Norway and Switzerland. This figure compares to 1.14 million in 2023, based on the report seen by German news agency DPA and newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
Germany’s Significant Decrease
According to reported EUAA data, there were 235,925 initial applications in Germany. Despite these numbers, Germany experienced a notable decrease of 30.2 percent in asylum applications compared to 2023, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
The number of initial applications in Germany reflected global trends, with most applicants coming from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkiye.
Top Countries and Origins of Applicants
Spain ranked second among European countries with the most asylum applications, receiving 165,398 applicants. France followed with 158,512 applicants, and Italy with 154,824.
The EUAA report stated that most people seeking asylum in the EU came from Syria (15 percent), Afghanistan (8.7 percent), Venezuela (7.3 percent), and Turkiye (5.5 percent).
Hungary’s Low Numbers and EU Fine
Hungary received only 29 new asylum applications in 2024. There has been an escalating battle between Brussels and Budapest centered around a massive fine leveled against Hungary for breaching EU asylum laws.
In June 2024, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) fined Hungary \$205 million for breaking the EU’s asylum laws by “unlawfully detaining” asylum-seekers and deporting them before they could appeal the rejection of their applications.
Migration’s Impact on German Elections
Migration has also become a major issue for voters in February’s German election, with the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining ground with its anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Reference(s):
EU asylum applications fall in 2024, with Germany seeing 30% drop
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