EASO Quarterly Asylum Report Quarter 4, 2014...EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q4 2014 7 The number of...

European Asylum Support Office

SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION

EASO

Quarterly Asylum Report

Quarter 4, 2014

EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q4 2014 2

Contents

Summary .................................................................................................................................... 4

Section 1: Trends in applicants for international protection .................................................... 5

Applicants for international protection in the EU+ .......................................................... 5

Main citizenship/group of citizenship of applicants for international protection ........... 6

Profile of applicants for international protection in Europe ............................................ 9

Country of destination ...................................................................................................... 9

Section 2: Trends in decisions at first instance ....................................................................... 11

Numbers of decisions ..................................................................................................... 12

Recognition Rate ............................................................................................................. 13

Type of protection granted ............................................................................................. 15

Stock of pending cases .................................................................................................... 18

Section 3: Key trends in focus ................................................................................................. 21

Western Balkans ............................................................................................................. 21

Syria ................................................................................................................................ 23

Ukraine ............................................................................................................................ 27

Annex I – Statistical overview .................................................................................................. 30

Overview of asylum applicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered in

the EU+ by main citizenship, 2013 Q3-2014 Q4 ............................................................. 30

Overview of first instance decisions issued in the EU+ by main citizenship,.................. 31

2013 Q3-2014 Q4 ............................................................................................................ 31

Annex II – List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 32


Introduction

The EASO Quarterly Asylum Report is produced by EASO’s Centre for Information,

Documentation and Analysis. It aims to provide an overview of key asylum trends by

analysing data on applications for international protection, pending cases and decisions

made on applications by EU Member States and Associated Countries1.

The analysis is based on data2 submitted to Eurostat as per Article 4 of the Migration

Statistics Regulation3 and extracted from Eurostat database on 18 March 20154.

It is important to note that the Eurostat Technical Guidelines for the data collection5 were

amended in December 2013 and subsequently entered into force in the reference month of

January 2014. The change affects the backward comparability of 2014 data. The main

changes in the Eurostat Technical Guidelines for the data collection that affect the above

comparison are:

clarification of the first time and repeated applicant concepts;

addition of an instruction on how persons subject to a Dublin procedure should be

counted in the pending cases table;

instruction not to report Dublin cases as negative asylum decisions6;

clarification of the concept of humanitarian protection.

1 Referred to in the content of the report as “EU+”. This includes data from EU28, Norway and Switzerland. 2 Figures published on Eurostat database are rounded to the nearest “5” or “0”. The number presented in this report may therefore differ when analysed separately (by a single EU+ country, citizenship or indicator). 3 Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 July 2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 311/76 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers [2007] OJ L199/23 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32007R0862. 4 According to Migration Statistics Regulation, data on first instance decisions is provided by Member States and Associated countries to Eurostat on a quarterly basis and with a 2-month deadline for submission. Data on applicants and pending cases are monthly but have the same 2-month deadline for submission. These timelines explain the delay with which EASO quarterly reports are produced. 5 http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/Annexes/migr_asyapp_esms_an3.pdf 6 This change had the purpose of enhancing the comparability of decision statistics across EU+ countries and providing more relevant recognition rates. This change should be taken into account when making comparisons between the data collected under the former Eurostat guidelines and the current Eurostat guidelines.

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32007R0862

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_SDDS/Annexes/migr_asyapp_esms_an3.pdf


Summary

Trends in applicants for international protection

The growth in the total number of applicants for international protection in the EU+ continued for the third consecutive quarter, rising 10 % to over 210 000 applicants in Q4. In 2014, there were more than 660 000 applicants for international protection in the EU+, a 42% increase when compared to 2013.

The quarter under review was marked by the rise in applicants from Kosovo, which quadrupled compared to the third quarter. In 2014 overall, the composition of the five largest groups of asylum applicants registered in the EU+ consisted of citizens from Syria followed by Western Balkans countries, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Germany, Sweden, Italy and France were the main countries of destination, receiving 62 % of all asylum applicants registered in the EU+ in 2014.

Trends in decisions at first instance

During the fourth quarter of 2014, there were 119 290 first instance decisions issued in the EU+, an increase of 29 % compared to the third quarter and the largest total in a single quarter since 2008.

In Q4 2014, 48 % of all first instance decisions issued resulted in a positive outcome, two percentage points lower than the previous quarter.

In 11 EU+ countries, more than half of the first instance decisions issued were positive and resulted in the granting of refugee status, subsidiary protection or humanitarian protection7.

The stock of pending cases at the end of December 2014 exceeded 500 000, or 12 % more than the stock at the end of September 20148.

Key trends in focus

Western Balkans – From the third to the fourth quarter 2014, the number of applicants from all six Western Balkans countries together doubled, reaching 49 300 applicants (+98 %).

Syria – Syrian applicants continued to be the largest single citizenship of applicants in the EU+ and, with 42 610 persons recorded in Q4 2014, roughly on a par with the total for Q3 2014. In 2014, there were more than 128 000 Syrian applicants for international protection, a 143 % increase compared to 2013.

Ukraine – In the fourth quarter of 2014, the number of Ukrainian applicants in the EU+ grew for the fourth consecutive quarter (+11 % compared to Q3 2014) and with 5 660 applicants set a new high for this citizenship.

7 Reported as: authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons under national law concerning international protection 8 At the time of writing, no data for 2014 in Austria were available as well as end of December for Romania. Also, no data have been available for pending cases for an extended period from Cyprus from May 2011- 2013 (excluding December 2012) and the Netherlands for the entire period 2012-2014.


Section 1: Trends in applicants for international protection

Applicants for international protection in the EU+

The growth in the total number of applicants for international protection in the EU+

continued for the third consecutive quarter, rising 10 % to over 210 000 applicants in Q4 and

reaching levels significantly higher than in the recent years. Compared to the fourth quarter

of 2013, the influx of applicants was 61 % higher. As shown in figure 1, the growth started in

the second half of 2012 and accelerated in 2014, with the entire year totalling more than

660 000 applicants for international protection in the EU+, or a 42% increase when

compared to 2013.

Figure 1: Total and first-time asylum applicants9 in the EU+ since January 2008

Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

Figure 2 shows the monthly evolution in the number of applicants for international

protection reported in 2014, compared to the previous two years. As displayed, the month-

to-month comparison shows a higher overall number of applicants registered in 2014 than in

the two previous years. The evolution in 2014 followed the same pattern as in 2013 until

October, with a high point registered in that month, but afterwards the totals remained

around 70 000 applicants and there was no decline from October to December as in

previous years.

Figure 2: Total asylum applicants in the EU+ since January 2012 monthly trend Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

9 Total applicants: all persons having submitted an application for international protection as defined in Art.2 (h) of Qualification Directive or having been included in such application as a family member. First time applicants for international protection are those who lodged an application for the first time in a given Member State. When data for first time applicants is not available on Eurostat total applicants are considered first time applicants.


Main citizenship/group of citizenship of applicants for international protection

Figure 3: Main citizenship/group of citizenship10

of asylum applicants, Q4 2013- Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

Figure 3 shows the evolution to Q4 2014 of the composition of the five largest groups of

applicants registered in the EU+. The number of applicants from the six Western Balkan

countries almost doubled compared to the previous quarter and became the largest group

of applicants in Q4 2014. Syrian applicants constituted the second largest group, but still the

top single citizenship, while applicants from Afghanistan increased for the second

consecutive quarter and ranked third. Figure 3b shows the relative proportions of the top 20

nationalities for total and repeated applicants in 2014. Citizens of the Western Balkan

countries, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Russian Federation were the most numerous repeated

applicants, whereas flows such as those from Eritrea consisted almost entirely of first time

applicants.

Figure 3b: Main citizenship/group of citizenship of asylum applicants in 2014, Total & Repeated Applicants Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

10 The indicator applicants for international protection dissagregated by citizenship, including “Stateless” as a separate

category. In this report citizenship and nationality are used interchangeably.


The number of applicants from the Western Balkans in the EU+ doubled in the fourth

quarter of 2014 compared to the previous one (+98 %), reaching 49 300 applicants from

these countries combined. This rise was almost entirely due to a significant increase in the

number of applicants from Kosovo11 (+312 %), which totalled more than 26 000 applicants in

the EU+, of which 68 % applied in Hungary. Applicants from all other citizenships in this

group also increased in the fourth quarter, albeit at lower growth rates, ranging from the

9 % growth in applicants from Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to the 35 %

rise in applicants from Serbia. In Q4 2014, Germany and Hungary represented the principal

destinations of Western Balkan applicants, together receiving 83 % of the total for this group

in the fourth quarter. Sweden, France and Austria followed and accounted for 12 % of the

total.

Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+ totalled 42 610 in the fourth quarter, similar to the

figure recorded in Q3. In 2014, Syrian applicants for international protection constituted the

largest group in the EU+, recording more than 128 000 applicants, or a 143 % increase

compared to 2013. While Germany and Sweden continued to receive the majority of Syrian

applicants registered in EU+ (55 %), 18 EU+ countries reported Syrian applicants among the

three most common citizenships of applicants they received. The number of applicants

recorded as “Stateless” declined by 14 % compared to the previous quarter. According to

information provided by the Member States, the vast majority were Palestinians who

previously resided in Syria.

After exceeding 10 000 applicants in the third quarter (the highest number since 2008 in a

single quarter), the number of Afghans applying for international protection in the EU+

continued to grow in the fourth quarter (+38 %) reaching 15 000. With more than 4 500

applicants, Hungary experienced the largest growth (+127 %) and became the main receiving

country in the EU+, surpassing Germany, where the number of Afghan applicants remained

stable in the fourth quarter at 2 500. Austria ranked third, reporting a growth of 35 % and

with 2 000 applicants accounted for 14 % of the total. With a total of more than 42 000

applicants, 2014 saw a growth of 54 % compared to 2013.

Among the main citizenships of applicants in the EU+, the number of Eritrean applicants

showed the largest relative decrease in the fourth quarter of 2014 (-55 % compared to

Q3 2014) and dropped to 8 935 applicants, comparable to the levels registered in the second

half of 2013. In 2014 the number of Eritrean applicants rose every month at the beginning of

the year, peaked in July and then subsequently fell. The dynamics of travel routes with

regard to departure possibilities and costs seem to have been primary factor behind the

sharp increase in the first half of the year and the subsequent decrease. However, available

information is inconclusive12. Overall in 2014, Eritrean applicants in the EU+ more than

doubled (+131 %) compared to 2013 and represented the fourth largest group of applicants.

Germany, Sweden and Switzerland had the largest share of Eritreans (28 %, 24 % and 14 %,

respectively).

11 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244.

12 According to information provided by Frontex during the EASO Practical Cooperation meeting in October 2014, following the

phasing out of the Mare Nostrum operation there was a strong increse in the price for boat crossings. This may mean that

migrants with more financial means, such as Syrians, had better access to this route than Eritreans


The number of applicants from Iraq decreased slightly during the fourth quarter of 2014 (-

7 %) and totalled 7 250 applicants in the EU+. Compared to Q3 2013, when only 54 % of

these were new asylum applicants, in Q4 2014 the share rose to 82 %, or a 46 % quarterly

growth. On an annual basis, in 2014 the number of Iraqi applicants in the EU+ grew by 86 %

compared to 2013 and reached 22 000. With 43 % of the total flow in 2014, Germany was

the main destination country in the EU+, followed by Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands,

the three countries representing a further 25 % of the total influx.

Figure 4: Main countries of origin of asylum applicants in the EU+, percentage change from Q3 2014 to Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

The charts in Figure 5 show the age-gender distribution of applicants from the top five

countries of origin in Q4 2014. The left-side axis shows the age group categories in years.

With the influx of Syrian applicants to the EU+, the largest proportion consisted of

men aged 18-34 years, with this group amounting to over 18 000 applicants. The

profile also suggests that a significant number of families applied, comparable to the

profiles for Serbian and Kosovar applicants;

The vast majority of Afghan and Eritrean applicants were young men, though a small

number of children and, in the case of Eritrea, women in the 18-34 age bracket were

also visible. For both, the profile also indicates a proportion of families. Both

citizenships had very significant numbers of applicants claiming to be

unaccompanied minors, which represented respectively 49 % and 41 % of the

minors in the combined two classes of youngest age applicants13.

Serbian applicants were mainly families, while the distribution of applicants from

Kosovo also indicates a significant proportion of single male adults, but compared to

previous quarters, the proportion of Kosovar families increased notably in Q4.

13 This information is provided by EU+ countries via the EASO Early warning and Preparedness System (EPS) data collection.

312 %

38 % 35 %11 % 3 % 1 %

0 % - 7 % - 14 %

- 55 %-100%

-50%

0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

250%

300%

350%


Profile of applicants for international protection in Europe

Figure 5: The age distribution of applicants from top 5 countries of origin, by gender, Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

Country of destination

Figure 6 shows the changes in terms of absolute numbers of asylum applicants registered in

the EU+ countries between the third and fourth quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter, the

ranking of the main countries of destination changed compared to the previous one and

Germany, Hungary, Italy and Sweden were the main countries of destination, receiving 64 %

of all asylum applicants registered in the EU+. In Q4 2014, Hungary recorded the largest

increase, both in absolute and relative terms compared to the third quarter (+19 920;

+229 %). Significantly14 higher numbers of applicants were recorded in Austria (+3 090;

+39%), Spain (+515; +35 %), Bulgaria (+1 075; +33 %), Greece (+450; +22 %), Italy (+3 455;

+19 %), and France (+2 135; +15 %).

Conversely, a significant decrease compared to the third quarter of 2014 was registered in

Denmark (-3 365; -47 %), the Netherlands (-2 710; -34 %), Switzerland (-2 165; -28 %),

Sweden (-7 090; -25 %;) and Norway (-655; -17 %).

14 More than 10% increase/decrease and 250 applicants absolute difference compared to Q3 2014

Afg

han

ista

nEr

itre

aSe

rbia

Syri

aK

oso

vo

20 00015 00010 000 5 000 0 5 000 10 00015 00020 000

0-13

14-17

18-34

35-64

65+

Men Women

4 500 3 000 1 500 0 1 500 3 000 4 500

0-13

14-17

18-34

35-64

65+

10 000 7 500 5 000 2 500 0 2 500 5 000 7 500 10 000

0-13

14-17

18-34

35-64

65+

Men Women

3 000 2 000 1 000 0 1 000 2 000 3 000

0-13

14-17

18-34

35-64

65+

10 000 7 500 5 000 2 500 0 2 500 5 000 7 500 10 000

0-13

14-17

18-34

35-64

65+


Figure 6: Total asylum applicants in European destination countries in Q3 and Q4 of 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015


Section 2: Trends in decisions at first instance

The map below displays first instance decisions on international protection issued in the EU+

for the top 25 countries of origin of applicants during the third quarter of 2014. The

citizenships can be clustered into two main groups: those countries from which applicants

are mainly granted protection (including both types of EU-regulated international protection

statuses as well as humanitarian protection) for which the corresponding pie chart is mostly

green; and those from which applicants are mainly rejected, characterised by a pie chart

that is mostly purple.

Map 1: Main citizenships of applicants, first instance decisions and positive decisions issued in the EU+ during Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015; Note: the groups “Stateless” and “Unknown” citizenships, which ranked, respectively, 9th and 14th in the EU+, are not plotted in the map

The bar chart in Figure 7 indicates the number of decisions issued by EU+ countries at first

instance (in blue), the recognition rates15 (in per cent) and the type of protection granted.

As shown in Figure 7, the recognition rate at first instance can vary significantly from one

EU+ country to another. While these variations can arise from diverse factors, they are

usually a consequence of the following:

structural differences in the caseloads (including countries/regions of origin of

asylum applicants and their individual profiles) upon which decisions are issued;

15 The recognition rate at first instance is defined here as the ratio between the number of positive first instance decisions issued (refugee status, subsidiary protection status and humanitarian protection (authorization to stay for humanitarian reasons under national law concerning international protection)) as a proportion of the number of all first instance decisions issued (positive decisions and rejections) in the reference period under review.


different approaches, interpretations and policies adopted across the EU+ States;

the use of various forms of protection that exist under national law and which are

reported as humanitarian protection16.

Figure 7: First instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q4 2014


Numbers of decisions

During the fourth quarter of 2014, there were 119 290 first instance decisions on

international protection issued in the EU+, an increase of 29 % compared to the third

quarter and the largest number in a single quarter since 2008. The increase, compared to

the same quarter in 2013 when 102 720 decisions were issued, was 16 %. The growth in

decisions reflected the rise in the number of applicants for international protection

registered during the same period as more decisions were made on a larger influx of

applicants. As stated in Section 1, from the third to fourth quarter of 2014, the number of

applicants grew by 10 % and, compared to the third quarter of 2013, the influx grew by

61 %.

The highest numbers of first instance decisions issued in the fourth quarter of 2014 were in

Germany (35 700, 30 % of the total), France (18 760, 16 % of the total) and Sweden (10 725,

9 % of the total). These countries together accounted for 54 % of all decisions issued in the

EU+. Italy (9 750, 8%), the United Kingdom (9 465, 8 %), the Netherlands (6 185, 5 %),

Belgium (5 740, 5 %) and Switzerland (5 540, 5 %) also issued a significant number of

decisions.

16 Humanitarian protection is not harmonised at EU level and is reported only by 18 of the EU+ states (Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland).


In comparison with the previous quarter, the sharpest increases in the number of first

instance decisions were reported by Hungary (+210 %), followed by Finland (+182 %) and

Bulgaria (+111 %). In these countries, the higher number of decisions reflected the

intensified efforts among asylum authorities to deal with increased pressure during 2014, for

example the influx of Kosovars in Hungary, Syrians in Bulgaria and Iraqis in Finland, as well

as decisions on older caseloads, for example Ukrainians in Finland and Syrians in Bulgaria.

Recognition Rate

In the fourth quarter of 2014, 48 % of all first instance decisions issued resulted in a positive

outcome, substantially higher than the 34 % recorded for all of 201317 and two percentage

points lower than last quarter.

Figure 8: Type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q4 2014


While at the EU+ level the recognition rate was 48 %, in some countries it was higher. In 11

countries, more than half of the decisions issued at first instance during the fourth quarter

of 2014 were positive: Bulgaria (94 % of 2 120 decisions); Malta (85 % of 455); Cyprus (83 %

of 405); Finland (80 % of 1605); Denmark (79 % of 2 375); the Netherlands (75 % of 6 185);

Sweden (74 % of 10 725); Switzerland (71 % of 5 450); Norway (68 % of 2 105); Latvia (60 %

of 25); Slovakia (54 % of 65); Italy (53 % of 9 750).

The charts in figure 9 show the evolution from Q1 2012 to Q4 2014 of the type of decisions

issued at first instance for the five main (single) countries of origin of applicants registered in

EU+ countries. Decisions include positive decisions (refugee status, subsidiary protection and

humanitarian protection) or rejections.

17 See footnote 6.


Figure 9: Evolution of first instance decisions issued on the top 5 countries of origin since Q1 2012; Source: Eurostat data as 18.03.2015

In the fourth quarter of 2014, the recognition rate at first instance reported for Syrians was

95 %, one percentage point higher than the rate in the third quarter (94 %), while the total

number of decisions increased by 32 %. Of significant note was the increase in the number

of decisions issued in Germany compared to the previous quarter (+87 %). Furthermore, the

proportion of decisions in Germany granting refugee status as a form of protection

increased. In the fourth quarter, refugee status accounted for 65 % of first instance decisions

issued to Syrian applicants in EU+ countries18.

18 There can be a number of reasons for the small percentage of negative decisions reported for Syrian applicants including,

inter alia, persons claiming to be Syrians who are subsequently found not to be may be rejected while still being reported as

Syrians; applicants who absconded during the asylum procedure may be issued a negative decision; finally, certain applicants

may be excluded from receiving refugee status or subsidiary protection in line with Articles 12 and 17 of the Qualification

Directive


The total number of decisions on Eritrean applications grew in the fourth quarter (+21 %),

with the recognition rate decreasing by one percentage point (90 %) compared to the third

quarter and showing fluctuations in the type of protection granted. After a third quarter

characterised by a discernible increase in the provision of subsidiary protection, in the fourth

quarter the share refugee status returned to proportions observed at the beginning of the

year: 65 % of total decisions issued at first instance.

The recognition rate for Afghans in Q4 2014 (66 %) slightly decreased compared to the

previous quarter as did the total number of decisions issued in EU+ countries (-7 %). Over

the period, the distribution in type of protection granted changed very little, with a

moderate but constant increase in the number of decisions granting refugee status and a

recent rise, in 2014, in decisions granting humanitarian protection.

Decreasing from the 3 % average recognition rate recorded in the last 4 quarters, only 1 % of

the decisions issued granted some sort of protection to Serbian citizens in Q4 2014. The

main receiving EU+ countries considered almost all applications for international protection

from Serbian applicants to be unfounded. Refugee status protection represented the most

common type of protection granted to Serbian nationals in 2014.

The recognition rate for applicants from Kosovo was 8 % in the fourth quarter, representing

one of the highest levels for this citizenship since the beginning of 2012. While, as in the

case of Serbians, the majority of applications for international protection were considered

unfounded, 2014 was marked by a slight increase in the share of protection granted to

Kosovars when compared to the previous two years. Refugee status constituted the most

common type of protection granted to Kosovars in 2014.

Type of protection granted

In the EU+ countries, decisions granting refugee status made up 30 % of all first instance

decisions issued during Q4 2014, while the shares of cases granting subsidiary protection

and humanitarian protection were 13 % and 5 % respectively.

Refugee status

In relative terms, Germany (93 %), Bulgaria (93 %), the United Kingdom (89 %), Belgium

(89 %) and France (83 %) granted refugee status in the largest proportion of their positive

decisions. Table 1 below shows the countries of origin of asylum applicants who were most

often granted refugee status in selected EU+ countries during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Subsidiary protection

The highest proportions of subsidiary protection decisions, as a share of all positive decisions

issued during the third quarter of 2014, were registered in Latvia and Lithuania (100 %),

followed by Cyprus (97 %), Czech Republic (87 %), Finland (82 %) and the Netherlands

(77 %). Table 2 below shows the principal citizenships of asylum applicants mainly granted

subsidiary protection status in selected EU+ countries.


EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Subsidiary

protection

Ratio of Subsidiary

Protection in

Positive Decisions

Cyprus 340 330 97%Syria 330 325 98%Other 10 5 50%

Czech Republic 155 135 87%Syria 110 105 95%Stateless 10 10 100%Afghanistan 5 5 100%Other 5 5 100%

Finland 1 290 1 055 82%Iraq 255 210 82%Ukraine 145 140 97%Kosovo 120 95 79%Other 770 610 79%

Netherlands 4 540 3 480 77%Syria 2 310 2 045 89%Eritrea 1 255 1 240 99%Unknown 45 40 89%Other 930 155 17%

Spain 375 240 64%Syria 265 205 77%Somalia 25 25 100%Côte d'Ivoire 5 5 100%Other 80 5 6%

Table 1: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q4 2014, granting

refugee status, by citizenship of applicants; only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q4

2014 are displayed;


Table 2: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q4 2014, using

subsidiary protection, by citizenship of applicants; only countries that issued more than 300

decisions in Q4 2014 are displayed;


EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Refugee

Status

Ratio of Refugee

Status in Positive

Decisions

United Kingdom 3 880 3 440 89%Eritrea 1 035 1 030 100%Syria 465 455 98%Iran 465 450 97%Other 1 915 1 505 79%

Bulgaria 1 975 1 835 93%Syria 1 900 1 785 94%Stateless 60 45 75%Iraq 15 5 33%Other 0 0 :

France 4 720 3 895 83%Iraq 490 485 99%Syria 675 465 69%Russia 385 370 96%Other 2 295 1 825 80%

Germany 14 890 13 865 93%Syria 10 075 9 870 98%Iraq 1 515 1 475 97%Unknown 765 725 95%Other 2 560 1 940 76%

Belgium 2 590 2 310 89%Syria 795 780 98%Unknown 210 200 95%Guinea 190 190 100%Other 1 060 905 85%


Humanitarian protection19

Of the 18 EU+ countries for which this type of protection is reported, Poland (51 %), Italy

(47 %) and Switzerland (44 %) were the main countries granting humanitarian protection

among the positive decisions issued in the third quarter of 2014.

Table 3: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q4 2014, granting

humanitarian protection, by citizenship of applicants; only countries that issued more than 300

decisions in Q42014 are displayed

Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

19 Humanitarian protection is not harmonised at EU level and is reported only by 18 of the EU+ (Czech Republic, Denmark,

Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, the

United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland).

EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Humanitarian

protection

Ratio of Humanitarian

Protection in Positive

Decisions

Poland 195 100 51%Russia 85 60 71%Georgia 25 25 100%Ukraine 5 5 100%Other 80 10 13%

Italy 5 150 2 455 48%Mali 520 410 79%Nigeria 565 365 65%Gambia, The 335 285 85%Other 3 730 1 395 37%

Switzerland 3 850 1 425 37%Syria 810 550 68%Afghanistan 345 260 75%Sri Lanka 720 120 17%Other 1 975 495 25%


Stock of pending cases

The stock of pending cases20 at the end of December 2014 exceeded 500 000, rising 12 %,

with an additional 53 670 cases more than those registered at the end of September.

Figure 10: Stock of pending cases at the end of each quarter Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

21

Germany (221 195), Sweden (54 325) and Italy (45 750) were the EU+ countries with the

highest stock of pending cases at the end of December 2014.

The highest relative increase in pending cases in the fourth quarter was registered in

Hungary (+348 %). This was mainly due to the large increase in Kosovar applicants, as

Hungary received high numbers of applicants from Kosovo during the fourth quarter. The

number of pending cases for applications from Syrian and Afghan citizens also increased in

Hungary.

As a result of the increased demand for international protection during the quarter, several

EU+ countries registered significant22 increases in their stock of pending cases compared to

three months earlier: Italy (+43 %), Bulgaria (+30 %), Spain (+18 %) and Germany (+16 ). In

contrast, other EU+ countries managed to reduce their stock of pending cases at the end of

December compared to the end of September. For example in Finland (-31 %), this was the

result of increased number of decisions taken, coupled with a reduced demand for

international protection in the fourth quarter, while in Greece (-23 %) the Hellenic police,

responsible for cases prior to the creation of the Hellenic Asylum Service in the summer of

2013, processed more than 9 000 “inactive” cases.

20 The stock of pending cases indicator gives a snapshot of the number of persons who lodged an application for international protection which is still under consideration by the responsible national authority at the end of the reference period. 21 At the time of writing, all pending cases data for 2014 in Austria were not available. Also, no data have been available for pending cases for an extended period from Cyprus from May 2011- 2014 (excluding December 2012) and the Netherlands for the entire period 2012-2014. 22 More than 15% and 250 cases


Figure 11: Stock of pending cases as of 31 December 2014 and percentage change in pending cases

from 30 September 2014 to 31 December 2014 by reporting EU+ country

Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.201523

Figure 12: Stock of pending cases as of 31 December 2014 and percentage change in pending cases from 30 September 2014 to 31 December 2014 by main countries of origin Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

23 Data on the stock of pending cases not available for the Austria, Belgium, Cyprus and Netherlands

61 200 Syria

35 800 Eritrea

33 780 Afghanistan

31 005 Pakistan

23 315 Kosovo

23 010 Serbia

20 035 Nigeria

18 850 Russia

17 645 Iraq

15 770 Somalia

020,00040,00060,00080,000

21%

6%

13%

-5%

148%

21%

14%

-5%

7%

6%

-15% 10% 35% 60% 85% 110% 135% 160%


The bar chart above shows the percentage changes in the stock of pending applications

between Q3 2014 and Q4 2014 for the top 10 citizenships recorded in Q4 2014. With the

exception of applicants from Pakistan and the Russian Federation, which decreased, the

number of pending cases for applicants of all other main nationalities grew compared to the

end of September.

With more than 61 000 applicants awaiting a decision, Syrians ranked first for the third

consecutive quarter and also experienced the second highest relative growth (+21 %) in the

EU+. The growth in pending cases illustrates the significance of the Syrian flow in European

asylum systems: while the number of applicants remained unchanged from last quarter and

the number of decisions in fact increased during the fourth quarter, the number of Syrian

pending cases rose by 21 % from the third quarter. This suggests that the number of

decisions must increase still further to address the influx of applicants. Germany, Sweden

and Greece are the three EU+ countries responsible for the majority of Syrian cases.

The number of pending cases of Kosovar citizens at EU+ level increased during the fourth

quarter by 148 % as a consequence of the sudden rise in the number of applicants during

the same period. From this, Germany, Hungary and France had the highest share of pending

cases.


Section 3: Key trends in focus

Figure 13: Main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+, Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

Western Balkans

As in previous years, the highest quarter for applications in countries EU+ countries from

Western Balkan nationals (WB) throughout the year was the fourth quarter. The total

number of applicants from the WB doubled to almost 50 000 (+98 %), a new quarterly high

that represented 23% of the EU+ total.

Figure 14: Western Balkan applicants in EU+ countries since 2012, quarterly trend Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

In particular, the largest proportion (80 %) of the increase in WB applicants to EU+ was due

to Kosovar applicants (26 260). The number of Kosovar applicants in the EU+ rose by 331 %

following a 134% rise during the third quarter. As in the third quarter, Hungary received the


largest number of applicants in the fourth quarter, amounting to 68 % of the total number of

Kosovars applying in the quarter. With more than 17 000 applicants from Kosovo, the levels

recorded in Hungary were unprecedented. In the previous EASO Quarterly Report, it was

suggested that “Kosovars who do not have a Serbian biometric passport and who are

apprehended illegally crossing the Serbian-Hungarian external land border usually lodge an

asylum claim to avoid return to Serbia. Following this, most then abscond from open

reception centres (implicitly withdrawing their application) and it is presumed that they

continued their journey to western and northern European countries24.” Even if Dublin data

for 2014 is not yet available, such a presumption is once again supported by the numbers of

applicants from Kosovo in Austria and Germany which increased by 419 % and 176 %

respectively in the fourth quarter. This set a new high for both countries. The number of

withdrawn applications from Kosovar citizens in Hungary reached 4 810 in the fourth

quarter, or a 312 % increase compared to the third quarter.

The number of Serbs applying in the EU+ reached 11 490 (+35 %) and the vast majority

continued to apply almost exclusively in Germany (88 % of the Serbs applying in the EU+).

The number of applicants for international protection from Bosnia and FYROM also grew in

Q4 2014 but at a more moderate rate (+13 % and +9 % compared to Q3 2014). As in the case

of Serbs, they lodged their applications mainly in Germany (81 % and 84 % of the respective

totals).

After a decline in Q3 2014, the number of Albanian and Montenegrin applicants grew by

30 % and 10 % respectively. Throughout the year, the number of Albanian applicants

decreased in France but rose in Germany, possibly because Albania was included in France’s

safe country of origin list25.

Figure 15: Distribution of Western Balkan asylum applicants in the EU+, Q3and Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

With regard to applicants from Western Balkan countries, there seems little change from

what was highlighted in EASO’s report on Asylum applicants from the Western Balkans:

Comparative analysis of trends, push–pull factors and responses report on the region26.

24 Dublin data from Eurostat for 2013, for example, shows over 7,000 accepted transfer requests made by Germany to Hungary.

25http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000028396968 26 http://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/BZ0213708ENC.pdf. An update of the report is currently under drafting and will be

published during the next months.

http://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/BZ0213708ENC.pdf


Asylum seekers from this region consist mainly of Albanians from Kosovo and Albania and

Roma from Serbia and FYROM. The most important push factors behind the decision of

some WB citizens to claim asylum in the EU+ are the social problems of specific groups

which are closely linked — especially in the case of Roma — to unemployment and poverty.

The principal pull factors determining the choice of destination country are mainly

economic.

In the EU+, during the fourth quarter, the total number of decisions issued on applications

lodged by nationals of WB countries almost doubled compared to the third quarter and 96 %

of those decisions had a negative outcome. This rejection rate mirrors the 96 % rate

registered over 2013.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, Germany, Hungary and France issued 87 % of all decisions on

nationals from WB countries; the figure below displays the rejection rates for citizens of WB

countries in the EU+. Compared to Germany and Hungary, where the rejection rate is 100 %,

the recognition rate of WB applicants increased in France and reached 18 %. Generally, the

recognition rate is quite low in most EU+ countries, but Finland and Italy stand out, having

granted higher shares of some type of protection; mainly subsidiary protection in Finland

and humanitarian protection in Italy. In both cases, positive decision represented more than

half of the decisions issued to WB applicants in the fourth quarter.

Figure 16: First instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+ for Western Balkan

applicants;


At the end of December 2014, 77 000 applicants from the Western Balkan countries were

awaiting a final decision on their cases in the EU+, an increase of 37 % compared to the end

of September. As a consequence of the high number of applicants in the last quarter of

2014, Germany remained responsible for 69 % of these pending cases, followed by Hungary,

up to 14 % from 2 % in the third quarter.

Syria

Syrian applicants continued to be the largest single citizenship of applicants in the EU+.

42 610 were persons recorded in Q4 2014, close to the number recorded in Q3 2014. In


2014, Syrian applicants for international protection totalled more than 128 000 applicants, a

143 % increase compared to 2013.

After strong growth during the third quarter, the number of Syrian applicants remained at

significantly high levels. The total for Q4 2014 was double the total in the same quarter of

2013 and four times higher than Q4 2012. Last year the monthly peak was registered in

September with more than 17 000 Syrian applicants. Since then, a decrease has resulted

from a seasonal drop and a fall in arrivals by sea (as reported by Frontex).

Map 2: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

As shown in map 2, in the fourth quarter of 2014 the largest share of Syrian applicants (56 %

of the EU+ total) continued to be registered in Germany and Sweden. In the fourth quarter,

with 37 % of the total, Germany became the main destination country for Syrian applicants.

As figure 17 shows, during the fourth quarter the distribution among main destination

countries changed compared to the third quarter. While at EU+ level, roughly the same

number of Syrian applicants was registered during both quarters; the increase recorded by

Germany, Hungary and Austria (+28 %, +65 % and +45 % respectively) in the fourth quarter

was mirrored by the decrease in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark (-28 %, -51 %

and -51 % respectively).


Figure 17: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, 2nd

and 3rd

quarter 2014


Fourteen countries experienced quarter-on-quarter rises and 14 countries quarter-on-

quarter declines. Three-digit growth was recorded in Spain (+133 %) and Greece (+173 %).

Syrians were in the top three citizenships of applicants for 18 EU+ states, slightly less than in

recent the previous two quarters. Given the continued armed conflict in Syria, the outflow of

persons seeking protection the movement of Syrian applicants towards EU+ countries is

likely to continue.

Figure 18: First instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+ on Syrians; only countries

that issued more than 100 decisions in Q4 2014 are displayed


As shown in figure 18, the type of protection granted by EU+ countries to Syrians in the

fourth quarter varied substantially among the main receiving countries. While the United

Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Bulgaria mainly granted refugee statuses,

Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Cyprus more often granted Syrians subsidiary

protection status. Switzerland is the only EU+ country where most first instance decisions

10 795 Germany

3 385 Sweden

2 460 Netherlands

1 900 Bulgaria

1 415 Denmark

835 Switzerland

825 Belgium

695 France

520 United Kingdom

500 Norway

325 Cyprus

275 Greece

265 Spain

170 Romania

135 Malta

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Refugee status Subsidiary protection Humanitarian Protection

02,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,000


issued to Syrians led to humanitarian protection. In France, Norway, and Romania, the type

of protection granted was more evenly split between refugee status and subsidiary

protection.

At the end of December 2014, the stock of pending cases for Syrian applicants in the EU+

countries was 61 200, representing the largest single nationality caseload recorded in the

EU+ countries since 2008 and a 21 % increase compared to the end of September 2014. At

the level of individual EU+ countries, the stock of pending cases reflected the changes in the

number of applicants: the stock of pending Syrian cases grew in Germany (+29 %), Sweden

(+27 %), Belgium (+26 %), the United Kingdom (+23 %), Denmark (+12 %) and Italy (+12 %).


Ukraine

The number of Ukrainian applicants in the EU+ grew for the fourth consecutive quarter

(+11 %) and with 5 660 applicants set a new quarterly high for this citizenship in Q4. Before

2014, the number of Ukrainian applicants averaged roughly 100 per month. The growth

during 2014 has been the largest relative yearly growth for any single citizenship (+1 297 %),

14 times higher than 2013, reaching 14 315 applicants in 2014 and representing the 10th

largest group of citizenship applying in EU+ countries. As in the previous quarters, the

applications were mostly (95%) from first-time applicants (i.e. persons who have never

applied before in the reporting MS) and were widely distributed throughout Europe.

Map 3: Distribution of Ukrainian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q4 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of 18.03.2015

The influx of Ukrainian applicants increased during the first 10 months of 2014, rising to

about 2 300 applicants in October 2014. Ukrainians represented the 9th largest group of

applicants registered in the EU+ that month.


Figure 19: Distribution of Ukrainian asylum applicants in EU+, 3rd

and 4th

quarter 2014 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18.03.2015

Germany, Italy and Poland remained the main destination countries for Ukrainian applicants,

although in a different order compared to the third quarter, attracting 57 % of the total flow

at EU+ level. Germany recorded the largest increase in absolute and relative terms (+915,

+131 %).

In the last Practical Cooperation workshop on Ukraine held at EASO in January 2015, it was

indicated that although a number of factors can influence the choice of the destination

country, the presence of an established Ukrainian diaspora or previous experience in the

destination country (due to work or study) were significant pull factors. To a large extent,

the existence of a Ukrainian diaspora seems to explain the geographical distribution of

Ukrainian applicants in the EU+.

The recognition rate in the EU+ for Ukrainian applicants was 25 % during Q4 2014. While the

majority of decisions on Ukrainian cases resulted in a rejection, this marked the highest

quarterly recognition rate for Ukrainians during 2014 and was higher than the 12 % rate

registered for all of 201327.

There was, however, a large disparity in the recognition rates at first instance across EU+

countries having issued more than 50 decisions in the period under review, which ranged

between 0 % and 68 %. This disparity might be because certain Member States only

processed part of the Ukrainian caseload. As they were dealing with a large influx from other

countries, Ukrainians cases may have received lower priority. Some Member States only

processed applications that were not conflict-related (i.e. manifestly unfounded) and have

delayed decision-making on applications which may have relevant grounds, pending a

clarification of the situation in the country of origin. This might explain why the number of

decisions issued to Ukrainians remains low compared to the number of applications received

and also the continued relatively high share of negative decisions.

27 As explained already this may be the consequence of the change in the reporting rejections to Eurostat, c.f. footnote 6


Figure 20: First instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+ on Ukrainians; only

countries that issued more than 50 decisions in Q4 2014 are displayed


At the end of December 2014, there were 10 080 pending cases at first instance for

Ukrainians applicants in the EU+. Compared to the end of September 2014, this constituted

a 49 % increase in the number of pending cases registered, reflecting the increase in the

number of applicants and the pace at which the caseload was processed. Germany (2 765)

reported the largest stock of Ukrainian cases, followed by Italy (1 555) and Switzerland

(1 170).


Annex I – Statistical overview

Overview of asylum applicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered in

the EU+ by main citizenship, 2013 Q3-2014 Q4


Note:

1) In case of missing data in the quarter under review, rate of changes are calculated excluding the not reporting countries.

2) Kosovo: this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244. 3) FYROM: the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.


Overview of first instance decisions issued in the EU+ by main citizenship, 2013 Q3-2014 Q4


Note:

1) In case of missing data in the quarter under review, rate of changes are calculated excluding the not reporting countries.

2) Kosovo: this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244. 3) FYROM: the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.


Annex II – List of Abbreviations

EASO European Asylum Support Office

EPS Early Warning and Preparedness System

EU European Union

EU+ European Union Member States plus Norway and Switzerland

Frontex European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the

External Borders of the Member States of the European Union

FYROM the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

UN United Nations

UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

WB Western Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM,

Kosovo (this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in

line with UNSCR 1244), Montenegro, and Serbia

EASO Quarterly Asylum Report Quarter 4, 2014...EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q4 2014 7 The number of...

Documents

Transcript of EASO Quarterly Asylum Report Quarter 4, 2014...EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q4 2014 7 The number of...