According to the latest Eurostat data, almost 912 000 people applied for asylum in the European Union (EU) for the first time in 2024, down 13% from just over a million in 2023, reports Politico.
This is the first drop in first-time applications since 2020, although the figure is still significantly higher than the pre-Covid average.
Migration policy has rattled the bloc as leading parties adopt harsher rhetoric on asylum seekers and immigrants in a bid to stem the rise of far-right populist movements in the polls.
Syrians accounted for 16% of the total number of first-time applicants – 147 965, followed by Venezuelans with 72 775 applications and Afghans with 72 155.
Syria has consistently been the main country of origin for asylum seekers since 2013, but since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime at the end of last year, some EU countries have stated that migrants who have fled to Europe should return to the so-called now safe country.
Germany, Spain and Italy were the main destinations for asylum seekers and together accounted for more than half of the first applications made in 2024.
Cyprus and Greece received the highest number of applicants relative to their population, with 7.2 and 6.6 applicants per 1 000 inhabitants respectively.
Hungary (25), Slovakia (135), Lithuania (29) and Latvia (800) received the fewest first asylum applications (less than a thousand).
Danish Social Democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Politico in an interview this week that “mass migration” is a “threat to everyday life in Europe” and said she has long advocated a “zero asylum” policy.
In Germany, outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz stepped up his rhetoric on migration, although this did not save him from defeat in the February elections, which were won by conservative Friedrich Merz, who has an even tougher stance on migration
The European Commission (EC) is also pursuing an ambitious fight against migration. Last week, the Commission unveiled a new plan to streamline deportations, increase penalties for rejected migrants who do not leave the bloc and set up “return centres” in non-EU countries to house people awaiting deportation if their asylum claims are rejected
In 2024, the number of deportations from the EU to non-EU countries continued to rise, exceeding 25 000, a significant increase on the 2021-2023 level, which on average saw less than 20 000 deportations.
The number of forced returns increased compared to previous years, reaching 11.8 thousand in Q3 2024. Voluntary returns also increased, reaching the highest level on record.