In May 2022, the number of first-time applicants for international protection in one of the EU Member States went up by 17% compared to the month before, figures by the European statistics office Eurostat show.
More than 63,000 non-EU citizens applied for asylum in the European Union in May this year, compared to just over 54,145 in April. The increase can be attributed in part to a rise in first-time applicants from Venezuela (+32%) and Syria (+24%).
"In May, there were also 6,280 subsequent applicants (people who reapplied for asylum after a decision had been taken on a previous application). This was up 20% compared with May last year, and up 13% compared with April 2022," said Eurostat.
While the percentage of applications from Venezuela saw the biggest rise, the largest group of people seeking asylum for the first time in absolute numbers came from Syria: 8,025 nationals sought international protection in the EU.
They were followed by people from Afghanistan (7,695), which has been under Taliban rule for over a year now, ahead of nationals from Venezuela (4,820), Colombia (3,535) and Pakistan (2,890).
Most first-time asylum applicants in Germany
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, March of this year also saw a large increase in Ukrainian first-time asylum applicants (from 2,370 in February to 12,885 in March). However, the numbers decreased to 1,510 and 1,295 in April and May, respectively.
Of the EU Member States, most first-time asylum applications were registered in Germany, which accounted for 13,855 requests (22% of all applications in the EU) in May.
Germany was followed by Spain with 10,200 applications (16%), ahead of France (9,800 – 16%), Italy (6, 450 – 10%) and Austria (5,645 – 9%). Together, these five countries accounted for nearly three-quarters (73%) of all first-time applicants in the EU.
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Additionally, 2,635 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in the EU, of which around half came from Afghanistan (1,215) – nearly double the number of May last year. Most other under-18s not accompanied by an adult who applied for international protection came from Syria (460) and Somalia (165).
Austria (770), Germany (435) and Bulgaria (320) were the three Member States that received the highest numbers of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in May 2022.
Neglecting human rights
In recent weeks, the EU has been heavily criticised for neglecting human rights in terms of its approach to migration flows, particularly on the world's deadliest sea migration route in the Mediterranean.
Critics stated that not only does the bloc not comply with the Refugee Convention (which it signed) which states that no one can be returned to a place where they run "a real risk of being subjected to torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment or where their life is in danger," it seems to actively be working against this principle.
In Belgium, the system for receiving asylum seekers and refugees has been completely saturated for months, resulting in people sleeping on the streets rather than receiving the shelter they are entitled to.
The migration crisis in the country is largely a result of the government closing down centres when the demand decreased, leaving Belgium unprepared for an increase in arrivals as is being experienced now.
