Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Figures released by the European Statistical Office in Brussels indicate that in December 2024, 62,085 first-time asylum seekers (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, a 17% decrease compared to November 2024 (74,485) and a 20% decrease compared to December 2023 (77,750).
There were also 6,560 subsequent applicants, representing a 6% decrease compared to November 2024 (7,005) and a 15% increase compared to December 2023 (5,680).
In the last quarter of 2024, 199,975 first instance decisions were issued in the EU, an 11% increase compared to the previous quarter (180,965) and a 19% increase compared to the same period the previous year (168,505). Of these first-instance decisions, 50% were positive (99,380).
Syrians continue to constitute the largest group of asylum seekers.
In December 2024, Syrians continued to constitute the largest group of asylum seekers (8,345 first-time asylum seekers), followed by Venezuelans (6,345) and Afghans (5,595).
Germany, Spain, Italy, and France received 71% of first-time applicants.
Germany (12,175), Spain (11,160), France (11,085), and Italy (9,715) continued to receive the largest number of first-time asylum seekers, accounting for 71% of the total number of first-time applicants in the EU.
The overall rate of first-time asylum applicants in the EU in December 2024 was 13.8 per 100,000 inhabitants. Compared to the population of each EU country (as of January 1, 2024), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (61.7), ahead of Luxembourg (36.5) and Belgium (25.6).
Positive asylum decisions increased by 10%.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, EU countries granted first-instance protection status to 99,380 asylum seekers, a 10% increase compared to the third quarter of 2024 (90,580).
Of the asylum seekers granted first-instance protection status in the EU, 39% received refugee status, 40% subsidiary protection, and 21% humanitarian status.
Germany (28,050), ahead of Spain (22,740), France (14,845), and Greece (9,595), topped the list of countries with the highest number of positive decisions at first instance. While Syrians (24,320), Afghans (14,535), and Venezuelans (12,475) were the most prominent beneficiaries of protection status in the European Union in the last quarter of 2024.