EU records over 1.1 million asylum applications in 2023, Syrians and Afghans file most claims

The European Union said Wednesday that in 2023, the number of asylum seekers in Europe surged to a seven-year peak, with over 1.1 million individuals applying for international protection. The majority of these applicants were Syrian nationals.

The rise in asylum seekers and other migrants has sparked divisions across many European nations. On one side are those advocating for stricter border controls and the rejection of more arrivals, while on the other side are those advocating for the continued welcoming of individuals fleeing persecution.

There has been a notable increase in the number of migrants from various African countries, particularly from Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria, reported this year.

According to the International Organization for Migration, a total of 213,896 migrants from Africa arrived in Europe via three Mediterranean routes from January to September. This figure represents a 60% rise compared to the same period in 2022 and a 105% increase compared to the previous year.

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Under international refugee law, people have the right to apply for asylum when they are fleeing conflict, fear for their safety or due to possible persecution over their race, gender, sexuality or religion. In Europe, people who apply because they are seeking jobs or better lives are often refused entry.

The EU asylum agency’s figures are compiled from claims in the 27 countries of the bloc, plus Norway and Switzerland.

The agency said 181,000 Syrians sought asylum last year — a 38% rise from 2022 — while Afghan nationals made up the second biggest group, with 114,000 claims filed, though the number of Afghans was 11% down, compared to 2022.

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Syrians stood the best chance of all nationalities of having their claims accepted, the agency said. More Palestinians lodged asylum applications last year — nearly 11,600, or two-thirds higher than the year before.

Germany received the most applications by far last year, with 334,000 people seeking asylum, but Cyprus was under the greatest pressure from migrants wanting to stay on the island, relative to its population. The agency said 12,000 people applied for protection in Cyprus in 2023.

France received 167,000 applications, Spain 162,000, and Italy 136,000. Combined with Germany, the four received more than two-thirds of all the applications made in 2023.

People from Turkey — a candidate to become an EU member, though its talks are at a standstill over concerns about democratic and human rights standards — also applied in far greater numbers, with 101,000 asylum applications by Turkish citizens, up 82% from 2022.

Around one-fifth of all the claims were made by people entitled to visa-free travel in Europe, including 68,000 Venezuelans and 63,000 Colombians.

The rise in applications, along with Europe welcoming in, at least temporarily, more than 4.4 million Ukrainians who have fled the war since Russia’s invasion two years ago, is overwhelming Europe’s asylum capacities. The agency said that in December, it was helping 13 countries to cope.

With inputs from AP.