EU Received Over 1 Mln Asylum Applications in 2023

The European Union experienced a surge in asylum applications last year, exceeding one million requests, marking the highest number submitted in seven years.

This increase was notably driven by Syrian and Afghan nationals, as reported by the European Union Agency for Asylum.

This influx of asylum seekers in 2023 approached the levels seen during 2015-2016 when hundreds of thousands, including Syrians fleeing the civil war, sought refuge in Western countries.

With the upcoming elections in June, immigration remains a critical issue across Europe, potentially influencing the rise of right-wing nationalist parties advocating for stricter entry standards in the European Parliament.

Germany, a member of the EU, received the highest number of asylum applications in 2023, accounting for approximately 29% of the total.

This has raised concerns, especially as the far-right Alternative for Germany party gains traction in polls.

According to the EU Agency for Asylum, a total of 1.14 million asylum applications were filed last year across the 27 EU member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland, which are part of the Schengen Area.

This represents an 18% increase from 2022 and continues the upward trend since 2020, following the easing of travel restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germany alone received 334,000 applications, doubling the number received by France (167,000) and significantly surpassing Italy (136,000).

Syrians led the applications with 181,000 requests, followed by Afghans with 114,000, despite an 11% decrease from 2022.

Turkish citizens filed 101,000 applications, showing an 82% increase from the previous year, with most applications submitted in Germany.

Spain saw a one-third increase in applications from Venezuelans and Colombians, with over 60,000 requests from each group, many of whom could enter Spain without a visa.

Moroccans, primarily in Austria, Egyptians, mostly in Italy, and citizens from Guinea and Ivory Coast, predominantly in France, also made significant numbers of asylum applications.

While Germany received one in every three applications, Cyprus had the highest ratio of asylum requests relative to its population.

However, not all applications across the EU are approved. The EU Agency for Asylum noted that the acceptance rate last year was 43%, the highest since 2016.

Acceptance rates varied significantly by nationality, with Syrians (80%) and Afghans (61%) being among the most protected.

The acceptance rate for Turkish nationals within the EU has "significantly decreased" since 2019, with only a quarter of the applications being approved.