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European Asylum Support Office

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EASO

Quarterly Asylum Report

Quarter 2, 2015

EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q2 2015 2

Contents

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

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

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

Profile of applicants for international protection in Europe ............................................ 8

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

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

Numbers of decisions ..................................................................................................... 11

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

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

Section 3: Key trends in focus ................................................................................................. 22

Syria ................................................................................................................................ 22

Western Balkans ............................................................................................................. 24

Afghanistan ..................................................................................................................... 27

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

Overview of asylum applicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered in

the EU+ by main citizenship, Q1 2014 – Q2 2015 ........................................................... 30

Overview of first instance decisions issued in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q1 2014 –

Q2 2015 ........................................................................................................................... 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 the Eurostat database on 30 September 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 2015 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 the 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 the Migration Statistics Regulation, data on first instance decisions are 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 total number of asylum applicants rose by 14 % (239 130) compared to the

previous quarter (Q1 2014 – 209 990) reaching the highest quarterly total since

data collection started in 2008. In comparison with the number of applicants

registered in the same quarters of 2014 and 2013 the increase is even larger: +74 %

and + 113 %, respectively.

The influx from Albania in the EU+ more than doubled compared to Q1 2015 and

totalled more than 18 000 applicants, representing 41 % of all Western Balkan

applicants in Q2. After reaching a quarterly high in Q1, the number of Kosovars

recorded in the EU+ has fallen sharply in Q2 with 40 595 less Kosovar applications (a

78 % decrease) than in the first three months of this year.

Germany and Hungary were the main countries of destination, receiving 51 % of the

total of asylum applicants registered in the EU+ in Q2 2015. The largest absolute

increase compared to Q1 2015 was reported by Austria (+7 905).

Trends in decisions at first instance

During the second quarter of 2015, 125 400 first-instance decisions on international protection were issued in the EU+, a decrease of 4 % compared to the first quarter of 2015.

In Q2 2015, 47 % of all first-instance decisions issued resulted in a positive outcome, or the same proportion as in the previous quarter (Q1 2015).

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 June 2015 totalled 613 715, rising 12 % from the level recorded at the end of March 20158.

Key trends in focus

Syria – In the second quarter of 2015, Syria became once again the main country of origin of asylum applicants, surpassing all the nationals of Western Balkans countries combined; during the second quarter of 2015, EU+ countries registered 45 905 Syrian applicants, up by 49 % compared to the total recorded in the first quarter of this year, and 93 % above the level recorded over the same period of 2014.

Western Balkans – In the second quarter of 2015, the number of asylum applicants from the six Western Balkan countries combined totalled nearly 44 945, down by 42 % from the quarterly high reported in the first quarter of this year.

Afghanistan – Afghan applicants represented the third-largest group of applicants in EU+ countries and their number doubled in the second quarter of 2015, rising to 28 455 applicants.

7 Reported as: authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons under national law concerning international protection 8 At the time of writing, no data for Austria was available. Also, no data has 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 applications for international protection Applicants for international protection in the EU+ The total number of asylum applicants rose by 14 % (239 130) compared to the previous

quarter (Q1 2014 – 209 990) reaching the highest quarterly total since data collection

started in 2008. In comparison with the number of applicants registered in the same

quarters of 2014 and 2013 the increase is even larger: +74 % and +113 %, respectively. An

increase in the second quarter of the year is not uncommon; such rises have been observed

in the past two years as well as in 2011 and preceded a further increase in the third quarter.

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

Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

Figure 2 shows the monthly trend for the last three years. As can be seen, the inflow of

applicants was significantly higher in the first half of 2015 than in the same period of 2013

and 2014. Contrary to previous years, when the number of applicants increased between

March and April, in 2015 a drop was recorded in this period after a sudden reduction in the

number of Kosovar applicants. The number of asylum applicants rose significantly in the EU+

and close to 100 000 persons lodged an application for international protection in the EU+ in

June.

Figure 2: Total asylum applicants in the EU+ since January 2013 (monthly trend) Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 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 are not available on Eurostat, total applicants are considered first-time applicants.


Main citizenships/groups of citizenship of applicants for international protection

Figure 3: Main citizenships/groups of citizenship10 of asylum applicants, Q2 2014 - Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

Figure 3 shows the evolution of the composition of the five largest groups of applicants

registered in the EU+.

The second quarter of 2015 represented the third consecutive period when the composition

of the top 3 nationalities (or groups) did not change. The measures undertaken by some of

the main EU+ countries of destination to better control economic migration, such as returns,

information campaigns in main countries of origin and increased border control, seem likely

to have influenced the number of WB applicants. In Q2 2015, their number fell by 42 %

compared to the quarterly high reached in the first quarter.

The number of Syrian applicants grew by 49 % compared to Q1 2015 and Syria became once

again the top nationality for applicants, following two consecutive quarters when the

Western Balkans group held that position.

Figure 3b: Main citizenships/group of citizenships of asylum applicants in Q2 2015, Total & Repeated Applicants Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

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

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


Compared to Q2 2014, the number of Syrian applicants almost doubled in the second

quarter of 2015. While 21 EU+ countries reported Syrian applicants among their three most

common citizenships of applicants, Q2 2015 showed a concentration of the Syrian flow in

Germany, Hungary and Austria which together accounted for two-thirds of such applications

registered in the EU+. Considering that the vast majority of those who lodged their

application in Hungary subsequently abandoned their claim, it is likely that most Syrians

arriving and applying for international protection in Germany, and to a lesser extent in

Austria, had already applied in Hungary11.

While the number of Afghan applicants in the EU+ doubled compared to the previous

quarter, they remained in third position in the top nationalities of applicants, as in the past

two quarters. Hungary, followed by Germany, was the country most affected by this flow.

According to the information provided by affected Member States, most of the Syrian and

Afghan applicants disembarked in Greece and continued their journey through the Western

Balkans region, subsequently re-entering the Schengen Area in Hungary.

Iraqis represented 6 % of the total applicants in Q2. Despite the 81 % increase registered

compared to the first quarter, Iraq kept fourth position in the top nationalities of applicants.

The main countries of destination for Iraqis were Germany, Austria and Hungary.

The number of applicants in the EU+ from the Western Balkans was 44 915, down 42 %

from Q1 2015 but 180 % above the level recorded in the same period of 2014. The influx

from Albania in the EU+ more than doubled compared to Q1 2015 and totalled more than

18 000 applicants, representing 41 % of all Western Balkan applicants in Q2. After reaching a

high in Q1, the number of Kosovars fell sharply in Q2 when EU+ countries recorded 40 595

less Kosovar applications (78 % decrease) than in the first three months of this year. Other

Western Balkan countries displayed different patterns, with applicants from Montenegro

and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia increasing (+117 % and +12 % compared to

Q1, respectively), and applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia decreasing over

the same period (-7 % and -27 % compared to Q1, respectively). In Q2 2015, Germany alone

received 83 % of Western Balkan applicants recorded by EU+ countries, followed by France

and Sweden with 5 % and 3 %, respectively.

By far the highest relative increase was in the number of Eritrean applicants, about three

and a half times the level of the first quarter of 2015, in line with the seasonal pattern of the

previous year.

11 Thus the figures on total numbers of applications for asylum at EU level given previously will

contain a significant amount of double counting of persons applying.


Figure 4: Main countries of origin of asylum applicants in the EU+, percentage change from Q1 2015 to Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 30 September 2015

Profile of applicants for international protection in Europe The charts in Figure 5 show the profile (gender and age breakdown) of the top 5 nationalities

of asylum applicants in Q2 2015. The differences are notable:

The Syrian flow to the EU+ sees a large proportion of young single men, but also a

significant number of families; it is likely that the majority of those travelling alone

will subsequently seek to be joined by their families via a reunification procedure,

immediately after their asylum application has resulted in a positive outcome;

The vast majority of asylum applicants from Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea were

young adult men, aged 18-34, fleeing the tense situation in their country of origin.

The composition of the Eritrean flow suggests also a significant share of single young

women too.

Afghanis and Eritreans were represented by a significant number of minors, a

significant proportion of whom, according to EPS data, were unaccompanied ;

Albanian applicants appear to overwhelmingly consist of families arriving with young

children (0-13); this is a characteristic of applicants coming from Western Balkans

countries which was presented in EASO’s WB report on comparative analysis of

trends, push-pull factors and responses12;

12 https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Asylum-Applicants-from-the-Western-Balkans_Update_r.pdf

https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Asylum-Applicants-from-the-Western-Balkans_Update_r.pdf


Figure 5: The age distribution of applicants from top 5 countries of origin, by gender and age, Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 30 September 2015

Country of destination The chart in Figure 6 shows the changes in absolute numbers of the asylum applicants in EU+

countries in Q2 compared to Q1. In terms of absolute numbers, Germany and Hungary were

the main countries of destination, receiving 51 % of all applicants registered in EU+ in Q2.

The highest relative increase compared to Q1 was reported by Austria (+77 %; +7 905), with

the vast majority of this increase coming from Syria.Germany (+7 %; +5 435), the

Netherlands (+124 %; +3 725), Switzerland (+64 %; +2 895), and Sweden (+22 %; +2 855)

registered significantly13 more applicants as well.

13 An increase of at least 2 000 compared to Q1 2015


Figure 6: Total asylum applicants in European destination countries in Q1 and Q2 of 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

A significant decrease compared to the first quarter of 2015 was not registered in any of the

reporting countries.


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 second quarter of 2015. The

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

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

international protection statuses as well as national humanitarian protection) for which the

corresponding pie chart is mostly green (Syria, Eritrea and Iraq); and those from which

applicants are mainly rejected, characterised by a pie chart that is mostly purple (Western

Balkans, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Ukraine).

Map 1: Main citizenships of applicants, first instance decisions and positive decisions issued in the EU+ during Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015; Note: the groups “Unknown” and “Stateless” citizenships, which ranked, respectively, 15th and 17th in the EU+, are not plotted in the map

Numbers of decisions During the second quarter of 2015, 125 400 first-instance decisions on international

protection were issued in the EU+, a decrease of 4 % compared to the first quarter. The

number of first-instance decisions issued remained well beyond 100 000 for the third

consecutive quarter, reflecting the efforts of EU+ countries to process the high number of

applicants for international protection registered during the same period. Compared to the

second quarter of 2014, when 87 655 decisions were issued, this represented an increase of

43 %.

The largest numbers of first-instance decisions issued in the second quarter of 2015 were

reported by Germany (46 095, 37 % of the total), France (19 425, 16 %) and Italy (13 760,


11 %). These countries together accounted for 63 % of all decisions issued in the EU+. A

significant number of decisions were also issued by Sweden (10 090, 8 %), the United

Kingdom (8 125, 6 % of the total), Switzerland (5 510, 4 %) and Belgium (4 705, 4 %).

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

instance decisions were reported by Bulgaria (+81 %), followed by Romania (+68 %) and Italy

(+30 %). In the case of Bulgaria and Romania, the higher number of decisions followed the

higher number of applicants from Syria during the quarter, while in the case of Italy the rise

resulted from a widespread increase in decisions issued to applicants from Sub-Saharan

African countries (Nigeria, Mali and Gambia). In addition, in Figure 7 the bar charts indicate

the number of decisions issued by EU+ countries at first instance (in blue), the recognition

rates14 (in per cent) and the type of protection granted.

Figure 7: First-instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q2 2015


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;

different approaches, interpretations and policies adopted across EU+ countries;

14 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 (authorisation 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.

46 095 Germany

19 425 France

13 760 Italy

10 090 Sweden

8 125 United Kingdom

5 510 Switzerland

4 705 Belgium

3 055 Netherlands

2 910 Denmark

2 355 Greece

2 160 Bulgaria

1 945 Norway

965 Poland

755 Spain

690 Hungary

585 Finland

460 Romania

410 Czech Republic

390 Cyprus

295 Malta

220 Ireland

185 Luxembourg

60 Lithuania

55 Portugal

50 Slovakia

45 Latvia

35 Croatia

35 Estonia

30 Slovenia

: Austria

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

Refugee Status Subsidiary Protection Humanitarian Protection

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,000


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

reported as humanitarian protection15.

Recognition Rate In the second quarter of 2015, 47 % of all first-instance decisions issued resulted in a positive

outcome, matching the EU+ recognition rate recorded during the first quarter and for all of

201416.

Figure 8: Type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q2 2015


While at the EU+ level the recognition rate was 47 %, it varied widely among EU+ countries.

In 14 countries, more than half of the decisions issued at first instance during the second

quarter of 2015 were positive: Bulgaria (89 % of 2 160 decisions); Denmark (82 % of 2 910);

Malta (81 % of 295); Sweden (75 % of 10 090); Norway (74 % of 1 945); Switzerland (73 % of

5 510); Cyprus (72 % of 390); the Netherlands (67 % of 3 055); Finland (58 % of 585);

Slovakia (60 % of 50) and Belgium (52 % of 4 705).

The charts in Figure 9 show the evolution from Q2 2013 to Q2 2015 of the type of decisions

issued at first instance for the tTop 5 (single) countries of origin of applicants registered in

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

humanitarian protection) or rejections.

15 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). 16 See footnote 6.


Figure 9: Evolution of first-instance decisions issued since Q2 2013 for the top 5 countries of origin of applicants; Source: Eurostat data as 30 September 2015

In the second quarter of 2015, the recognition rate at first instance reported for Syrians was

96 %17, two percentage points higher than the rate in the first quarter of 2015, while the

overall number of decisions issued decreased by 8 %. Refugee status accounted for 72 % of

the first-instance decisions issued to Syrian applicants in EU+ countries in the second quarter

of 2015, in line with the proportion of refugee status granted in the previous quarter.

Germany issued the highest number of decisions to Syrian applicants in the second quarter

of 2015 (13 550, -10 % compared to Q1 2015) and in 95 % of the cases granted refugee

status.

While the recognition rate for Afghans continued to increase (71 %), the total number of

decisions issued in EU+ countries decreased for the fourth consecutive quarter (- 11 % from

Q4 2014) and reached the lowest quarterly number (3 940) over the last five years. The

distribution by type of protection granted to Afghans changed very little over the period

illustrated in the chart, with a moderate increase in the number of decisions granting

subsidiary protection since Q4 2014.

17 There can be a number of reasons for the (small) share 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 recognition rate for applicants from Eritrea dropped in the second quarter of 2015

(87 %) to three percentage points less than in the first quarter. The total number of

decisions on Eritrean applications hit a new high during the second quarter (7 935), with

Switzerland and Sweden issuing the largest number of decisions. While refugee status

remained the type of protection most granted to Eritreans (67 %), the second quarter was

also characterised by a moderate increase in the provision of subsidiary protection, which

accounted for 17 % of total decisions18.

In the second quarter of 2015, only 4 % of the decisions issued granted some sort of

protection to Albanian applicants, the lowest since 2008. The total number of decisions on

these applications almost doubled compared to the first quarter, reflecting the increase in

the number of decisions issued in Germany, where decisions on Albanian cases were

prioritised during the quarter.

The recognition rate for Iraqis remained stable in the second quarter of 2015 (87 %). Since

the beginning of the 2014, a rise in the recognition rate of Iraqi applicants can be observed,

driven in particular by an increase in decisions to grant refugee status. These developments

followed the dramatic deterioration of the security situation in several Iraqi provinces that

started in 2014 and intensified in 2015.

Type of protection granted In EU+ countries, decisions granting refugee status made up 32 % of all first-instance

decisions issued during Q2 2015 (down 2 percentage points), while decisions granting

subsidiary protection and humanitarian protection constituted 10 % (up 1 percentage point)

and 5 % (no change), respectively.

18 EASO issued a COI report on Eritrea in May 2015.


Refugee status

In terms of the relative proportions of the various types of protection granted, Germany

(96 %), Greece (91 %), the United Kingdom (87 %), Norway (86 %) and Bulgaria (84 %)

granted refugee status in the largest share of their positive decisions. Table 1 below shows

the countries of origin of asylum applicants who were most often granted refugee status in

these five EU+ countries during the second quarter of 2015.

Table 1: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q2 2015, granting

refugee status, by citizenship of applicants; only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q2

2015 are displayed



Subsidiary protection

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

issued during the second quarter of 2015, were registered in Czech Republic (85 %), Cyprus

(80 %), Malta (69 %), Hungary (59 %), and Sweden (54 %). Table 2 below shows the principal

citizenships of asylum applicants mainly granted subsidiary protection status in these five

EU+ countries.

Table 2: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q2 2015, using

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

decisions in Q2 2015 are displayed;



Humanitarian protection19 Of the 18 EU+ countries for which this type of protection is reported, Italy (53 %),

Switzerland (33 %) and Poland (25 %) were the main countries granting humanitarian

protection in positive decisions issued in the first quarter of 2015.

Table 3: Positive decisions issued at first instance in selected EU+ countries in Q2 2015, granting humanitarian protection, by citizenship of applicants; only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q2 2015 are displayed Source: Eurostat data as of: 30 September 2015

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

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

the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland).


Stock of pending cases

The stock of pending cases20 at the end of June 2015 totalled 613 715, rising by 12 % with

64 230 more cases than those pending at the end of March 2015. The stock, which has risen

more or less constantly from the second quarter of 2012, once again set a new high since

the beginning of EU-level data collection in 2008.

Figure 10: Stock of pending cases at the end of each quarter since 2008 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 201521

As at the end of Q2 2015, Germany (306 010), Sweden (56 005) and Italy (48 305) remained

the EU+ countries with the highest stock of pending cases at the end of June 2015.

The highest relative increase in pending cases, compared to Q1 2015, was registered in

Hungary (+72 %), while the largest absolute increase was reported by Germany (+45 495).

While in Hungary this resulted from a large number of applications combined with a low

number of decisions during the quarter, in Germany this rise was mainly due to the large

growth in the number of Albanian applicants, which nearly doubled its respective stock of

pending cases, despite a strong increase in the number of decisions issued at first instance

(+484 %) to Albanian applicants.

Among other EU+ countries, the Netherlands (+59 %), Finland (+41 %), Spain (+37 %), Cyprus

(27 %) and Norway (19 %) registered a significant22 increase in their stock of pending cases

compared to three months earlier. In all those countries, this increase occurred along with a

combination a higher influx of applicants for international protection and lower or similar

level of decisions issued in the second quarter. In contrast, only Denmark reduced its stock

of pending cases at the end of June compared to the end of March. Denmark also recorded

more applicants and fewer decisions during the second quarter compared to the first one,

suggesting that either the removal of Dublin cases from the stock of pending cases or a

higher number of final decisions caused the drop.

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 since the beginning of 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 Significant in this case means more than 15% and 250 cases.


Figure 11: Stock of pending cases as of 31 March 2015 and percentage change in pending cases from

31 December 2014 to 31 March 2015 by reporting EU+ country

Source: Eurostat data as of: 30 September 201523

Figure 12: Stock of pending cases as of 30 June 2015 and percentage change in pending cases from 31 March 2015 to 30 June 2015 by main countries of origin Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

The bar chart in Figure 12 shows the percentage changes in the stock of pending cases

between Q1 2015 and Q2 2015 for the top 10 citizenships recorded in Q2 2015. With the

exception of applicants from Kosovo (which decreased), the number of pending cases for

applicants of the nine other main nationalities rose compared to the end of March.

23 Data on the stock of pending cases not available for Austria.


With more than 72 000 applicants awaiting a decision at the end of June, Syrians had the

highest number of pending cases for the fifth consecutive quarter, following a 16 % rise

compared to the end of March. The stock of Afghan applicants awaiting a decision

represented the second-largest group in the EU+ at the end of June, moving up one position

compared to the first quarter. For both caseloads, this is the result of an increase in the

number of applications for international protection and a reduction of first instance

decisions during the second quarter.

After two quarters of strong growth, the stock of Kosovar pending cases at EU+ level

decreased by 19 % in the second quarter of 2015 to 31 600 cases. Due to this, they moved

from the second to the sixth position in the ranking of the top citizenships of applicants

awaiting a decision at the end of June. Conversely, Albanian pending cases had the largest

absolute and relative increase compared to the end of March, which resulted in a jump of

five positions in the ranking from 10th to fifth. In both cases Germany held the vast majority

of the pending cases.


Section 3: Key trends in focus

Figure 13: Main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+, Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 30 September 2015

Syria After two consecutive quarters when nationals of the six Western Balkan nations (combined)

held the highest position of the top main nationalities of applicants, in Q2 2015 Syria

regained first place.

During the second quarter of 2015, EU+ countries registered 45 905 Syrian applicants, a rise

of close to 50 % compared to the total recorded in the first quarter of this year, and 93 %

above the level of the same period of 2014. Based on figures provided by UNHCR24 28 701

Syrians were newly registered as persons in need of international protection in the Western

Asia region during the second quarter of 2015, far less than the number of Syrians who

applied for international protection during the same period in EU+ countries, suggesting

that, compared to previous quarters, a larger proportion of those having fled Syria and

possibly already staying in neighbouring countries decided to come to the EU. This may also

be a consequence of the measures implemented by Lebanon (the second receiving country

for Syrian refugees after Turkey). Since the beginning of this year the Lebanese government

introduced a new set of rules25 regarding the entry and stay of Syrians. Based on this, Syrians

are not allowed to work In Lebanon and require a Lebanese sponsor if they want to remain

in the country.

During Q2 2015, the number of Syrians rose slightly in April and May and doubled in June

compared to March 2015. Although there was no change compared to previous quarter

regarding the main EU+ countries of destinations for Syrian asylum applicants, there was a

shift in irregular arrivals from Italy to Greece, where the number of Syrians irregularly

24 Syria Regional Refugee Response (Access 30 November 2015) 25 More information can be found here

http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php

http://www.irinnews.org/report/102181/lebanese-law-forces-syrian-refugees-underground


crossing the border from Turkey sharply increased in the in the islands closer to the Turkish

mainland (e.g. Lesvos ,Chios, Samos and Kos ).

Map 2: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

As shown in map 2, the Syrian flow in Q2 2015 was concentrated in Germany (37 % of the

total), followed by Hungary (19 %) and Austria (12 %), in line with the reactivation of the

Eastern Mediterranean /Western Balkans migration route. These three EU+ countries

accounted for 68 % of the total number of Syrian applicants registered in Q2 2015.

As Figure 17 shows, during the second quarter of 2015 the number of Syrian applicants

increased in almost all the main destination countries compared to Q1 2015, with the

exception of the United Kingdom, Croatia and Cyprus. While in the United Kingdom the

number dropped by 30 % compared to Q1 2015, Croatia and Cyprus respectively registered

10 Syrian applicants less than in Q1.


Figure 17: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q1 2015 and Q2 2015


Syrians were in the top three citizenships of applicants of 21 EU+ countries, slightly more

than in the previous three quarters.

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

that issued more than 100 decisions in Q2 2015 are displayed


As shown in Figure 18, the type of positive decisions granted to Syrians in Q2 2015 varied

substantially among the main receiving EU+ countries. While Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark,

Switzerland, Greece and the United Kingdom predominantly granted Syrians refugee status,

Sweden, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Spain more often granted subsidiary protection status.

In Q2 2015, the only EU+ country where most first-instance decisions granted humanitarian

protection to Syrians was Switzerland - more than half of all decisions issued at first instance

on Syrian cases.

At the end of June 2015, the stock of pending cases in the EU+ countries for Syrian

applicants was of 72 060 persons, representing the largest single citizenship caseload in the

EU+ countries and 16 % higher than at the end of first quarter of 2015. Within each of the 30

EU+ countries, the stock of Syrian pending cases reflected the influx received. Compared to

Q1, the stock of Syrian pending cases in Q2 2015 quadrupled in Hungary, which is considered

as the second entry point (after Greece) into the EU for Syrian nationals. Despite new highs

in the number of Syrians arriving and a 40 % rise in number of applications lodged by Syrian

nationals, Greece marked a 21 % decline in its stock of Syrian pending cases compared to the

end of March 2015.

Western Balkans In the second quarter of 2015, the number of asylum applicants from the six Western Balkan

countries combined totalled nearly 45 000, down by 42 % from the quarterly high reported

in the first quarter. The total number of Western Balkan applicants remained significant

despite the drop and was more than double compared to the second quarter of 2014.

The drop in the second quarter of 2015 was almost entirely due to the reduction in the

number of Kosovar applicants, which followed the unprecedented influx of the first quarter.

13 550 Germany

4 210 Sweden

1 865 Bulgaria

1 250 Denmark

1 065 Switzerland

850 Greece

845 Netherlands

795 United Kingdom

665 France

630 Belgium

385 Norway

230 Romania

220 Cyprus

210 Spain

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

Refugee Status Subsidiary Protection

Humanitarian Protection

05 00010 00015 000


The number of Kosovar applicants has been mainly driven by sudden surges, the first from

April to July 2013 and the second one, more recent and bigger in magnitude, from

September 2014 to February 2015, when more than 25 000 applications were reported in

one month in the EU+. Since measures were taken by Germany, Austria, and Hungary, such

as returns, informative adverts in main countries of origin, and increased border

surveillance, the total numbers reduced rapidly, with roughly 1 600 applications being

lodged in July 2015.

Figure 14: Western Balkan applicants in EU+ countries since 2013, quarterly trend Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

Despite the drop in the number of Kosovar applicants, for the first time, citizens of Albania

become, in Q2 2015, the most numerous of all Western Balkan applicants, followed by

Kosovars and Serbians. These three countries accounted altogether for more than 82 % of

the Western Balkan total. As the chart above shows, in Q2 2015 the number of Albanian

applicants continued an upward trend started in the last quarter of 2014 and registered a

two-fold increase compared to the previous quarter, totalling more than 18 000

applications. Unlike Kosovars, who entered irregularly via Hungary, citizens of Albania, who

are beneficiaries of the visa-free regime could travel directly to their final destination

country. Germany received by far the largest numbers of Albanian applicants, comprising

86 % of the total number of Albanians registered by EU+ countries in Q2 2015.

The very large numbers of Kosovars and Albanians overshadowed what were otherwise

significant number of citizens of Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The

number of applicants from Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

increased compared to Q1 2015, by 117 % and 12 % respectively, setting a new quarterly

high since 2008 for both citizenships. Germany constituted the main country of application

for both countries.

While the number of Serbian applicants dropped for the second consecutive quarter to

7 335, a decrease of 27 % from the level recorded in Q1 2015, this was still 49 % higher than

the level reported in the second quarter of 2014. Again, the overwhelming majority (89 %) of

Serbs applied in Germany. The number of Bosnian applicants went down for the second

consecutive quarter, totalling approximately the same level recorded by EU+ countries in the

second quarter of 2014.


Figure 15: Distribution of Western Balkan asylum applicants in the EU+, Q1 2015 and Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

Figure 15 shows the change in asylum applicants in the second quarter of this year

compared to the first quarter of 2015: the number of Western Balkan applicants increased

only in four of the 19 countries that reported applications in the second quarter. Germany

dealt with 82 % of the total number of Western Balkan applicants registered in the EU+. The

decrease in Hungary was due to the stop of the flow of citizens from Kosovo.

In Q2 2015, the recognition rate granted to Western Balkan applicants overall was 2.4 %.

While the majority of the EU+ countries issued mostly negative decisions to Western Balkan

applicants, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom had recognition rates above 20 %.

As shown in Figure 16, Germany issued by far the highest number of decisions at first

instance on Western Balkan cases (22 200), of which a very small proportion (65) were

positive. This was due to measures implemented by Germany to prioritise decision-making

on Western Balkan cases. In Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, most of the positive

first instance decisions issued to Western Balkan applicants resulted in humanitarian

protection but on small numbers of cases.

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

applicants; only countries that issued more than 100 decisions in Q2 2015 are displayed


At the end of June 2015, 111 745 applicants from the Western Balkan countries were

awaiting a decision on their applications in the EU+, an increase of 9 % compared to the end

of March 2015, despite the high number of first instance decisions issued by Germany.

22 200 Germany

2 705 France

1 320 Sweden

475 Belgium

440 United Kingdom

310 Switzerland

220 Hungary

130 Luxembourg

120 Italy

115 Norway

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



05 00010 00015 00020 00025 000


Afghanistan

In Q2 2015, Afghan applicants for international protection represented the second-largest

single citizenship of applicants in EU+ countries. After a decrease in the first quarter, the

total number of applicants from Afghanistan doubled in the second quarter to 28 455,

reaching a new quarterly high. Compared to Q2 2014, it constituted a threefold rise with

98% of these applications lodged by first-time applicants (i.e. persons who have never

applied before in the reporting EU+ country), three percentage points more than in Q1 2015.

Map 3: Distribution of Afghan asylum applicants in the EU+, Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

Hungary received the largest number of applications (roughly 13 800, or 48 % of the total) by

far followed by Germany and Austria, with 16 % and 14 % respectively, though as the Syrians

and Kosovars who applied in Hungary, the vast majority rapidly absconded and applied again

in other EU+ countries. According to information available from FRONTEX26, Afghan

nationals have been increasingly detected crossing the border from Turkey to Greece, where

they generally do not apply for international protection (as reflected in the map). From

Greece, they continue their journey to central northern Europe via the Western Balkan

route, where they represented the main nationality in the second quarter of 2015.

26 http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/FRAN_Q2_2015_final.pdf

http://frontex.europa.eu/assets/Publications/Risk_Analysis/FRAN_Q2_2015_final.pdf


Figure 19: Distribution of Afghans asylum applicants in EU+, Q1 2015 and Q2 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 30 September 2015

The large number of Afghan applicants in the EU+ in the last six months confirmed the

scenario mentioned in previous EASO Quarterly Reports regarding the possibility of higher

flows from the second half of 2014. The EASO COI Report on Afghanistan: Security

Situation27 provides evidence that the security situation in the country has been

deteriorating throughout 2014: the progressive withdrawal of the International Security

Assistance Force during 2014 has led to an intensification of the number of security

incidents, causing fatalities and injuries among civilians.

Despite the growth in the number of applications lodged, the total number of decisions

issued to Afghan applicants at first instance totalled 3 940 in the second quarter of 2015,

representing a 10 % decrease compared to the first quarter. This represented the lowest

number of decisions issued to Afghans in the last five years and also the fourth consecutive

quarter of decline. This may suggest some difficulties in processing Afghan cases in EU+

countries given the complexity of the current situation in this particular country of origin.

The recognition rate in the EU+ for Afghan applicants was 71 % during Q2 2015. This

represents a 3-percentage-point increase compared to Q1 2015 and was higher than the

65 % rate registered for all of 2014.

There was, however, considerable disparity in the recognition rates at first instance across

EU+ countries that issued more than 100 decisions in the period under review, which ranged

between 33 % and 98 %. The type of protection granted to Afghans by different EU+

countries also diverged substantially. While Germany and the United Kingdom mainly

granted Afghans refugee status, Norway, France and Italy mainly granted subsidiary

protection status. Switzerland was again the only EU+ country where most of the first-

instance decisions issued to Afghans led to humanitarian protection. Ten countries had a

recognition rate higher than the EU+ average (71 %).

27 https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Afghanistan-security-situation-EN.pdf; EASO has initiated an update of its COI

Security Update for Afghanistan in September, which will assess the security situation in country during the period January-

August 2015.

https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/Afghanistan-security-situation-EN.pdf


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

that issued more than 100 decisions in Q2 2015 are displayed


At the end of June 2015, there were 48 855 pending cases at first instance of Afghan

applicants in the EU+. Compared to the end of March 2015, this constituted a 38 % increase

in the number of pending cases registered, reflecting the increase in application and delays

affecting the processing of the Afghan caseload in some EU+ countries. Germany (46 %)

reported the largest stock of Afghan cases, followed by Hungary with 21 % of the total.

945 Germany

715 Italy

400 Belgium

360 Sweden

335 United Kingdom

285 Switzerland

185 Netherlands

165 France

165 Greece

130 Norway

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



0 200 400 600 8001 000


Annex I – Statistical overview

Overview of asylum applicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q1 2014 – Q2 2015


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.

last year prev. qtr

Asylum applicants 120 455 137 390 192 535 211 580 209 990 239 130 + 74 + 14

Syria 18 850 23 765 42 745 42 565 30 875 45 905 + 93 + 49 19Afghanistan 9 025 7 400 11 020 15 240 13 915 28 455 + 285 + 104 12Albania 4 415 4 075 3 790 4 850 8 605 18 280 + 349 + 112 7.6Iraq 3 120 3 695 7 750 7 265 8 245 14 895 + 303 + 81 6.2Eritrea 3 990 14 305 19 535 8 845 4 095 13 670 - 4.4 + 234 5.7Kosovo 3 240 2 705 6 350 26 085 51 985 11 390 + 321 - 78 4.8Pakistan 5 260 4 965 5 970 6 155 5 680 9 205 + 85 + 62 3.8Serbia 6 195 4 910 8 545 11 490 10 010 7 335 + 49 - 27 3.1Nigeria 3 715 5 030 6 180 6 245 4 775 6 660 + 32 + 39 2.8Somalia 4 100 4 615 5 030 4 300 4 150 6 315 + 37 + 52 2.6Other 48 075 49 125 57 885 59 260 55 485 77 020 + 57 + 39 32

Withdrawn applications 11 045 13 635 15 250 32 655 28 225 31 200 + 129 + 11Afghanistan 1 445 1 520 1 910 2 955 3 290 5 910 + 289 + 80 19Kosovo 285 355 1 340 5 005 11 675 5 125 +1 344 - 56 16Syria 1 055 1 045 1 495 2 960 1 420 4 260 + 308 + 200 14Iraq 230 375 355 1 645 525 1 680 + 348 + 220 5.4Pakistan 430 720 700 4 780 1 020 1 595 + 122 + 56 5.1Russia 1 460 1 230 1 360 1 340 1 080 1 340 + 8.9 + 24 4.3Serbia 540 600 665 705 935 1 010 + 68 + 8.0 3.2Albania 235 370 330 620 505 890 + 141 + 76 2.9Bangladesh 110 245 165 1 555 380 605 + 147 + 59 1.9Ukraine 50 140 265 355 395 560 + 300 + 42 1.8Other 4 600 4 635 5 000 4 080 3 870 8 225 + 77 + 113 26

Pending cases 365 695 387 135 458 355 512 415 549 485 613 715 + 59 + 12

Syria 28 870 33 885 50 755 61 315 62 060 72 030 + 113 + 16 12

Afghanistan 28 950 28 305 29 910 33 825 35 480 48 855 + 73 + 38 8.0

Eritrea 12 035 19 165 33 710 35 800 33 010 39 160 + 104 + 19 6.4

Pakistan 31 390 30 955 32 575 31 035 30 980 33 600 + 8.5 + 8.5 5.5

Albania 10 560 11 390 12 050 13 515 18 940 31 895 + 180 + 68 5.2

Kosovo 8 800 7 895 9 420 23 315 38 990 31 600 + 300 - 19 5.1

Serbia 15 020 14 955 19 055 23 010 25 585 26 255 + 76 + 2.6 4.3

Iraq 12 400 12 400 16 545 17 675 20 030 24 985 + 101 + 25 4.1

Nigeria 12 470 14 625 17 580 20 045 20 925 22 885 56 + 9.4 3.7

Somalia 12 275 13 340 14 875 15 775 16 935 19 775 + 48 + 17 3.2

Other 136 340 144 895 160 940 174 880 182 390 262 675 + 81 + 44 43

20152014

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2015Q2

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Overview of first-instance decisions issued in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q1 2014 – Q2 2015


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.

last year prev. qtr

Total Decisions 88 530 87 665 92 895 118 460 129 955 125 400 + 43 - 3.5

Refugee Status 19 320 20 235 23 830 36 060 44 000 40 935 + 102 - 7.0 33

Syria 6 035 6 700 8 445 16 020 21 145 19 405 + 190 - 8.2 47

Eritrea 3 110 2 465 3 330 4 890 5 265 5 330 + 116 1.2 13

Iraq 920 775 1 010 2 395 4 420 4 200 + 442 - 5 10

Stateless 590 765 865 1 275 1 940 1 425 + 86 - 27 3.5

Iran 1 165 1 175 1 305 1 255 1 405 1 240 + 5.5 - 12 3.0

Unknown 350 585 565 965 1 310 1 175 101 -10 2.9

Afghanistan 1 145 1 365 1 555 1 375 1 225 1 045 - 23 - 15 2.6

Sudan 220 285 455 645 740 945 + 232 + 28 2.3

Somalia 720 735 610 665 545 620 - 16 + 14 1.5

Sri Lanka 400 475 830 930 675 595 + 25 - 12 1.5

Other 4 665 4 910 4 860 5 645 5 330 4 955 +0. 9 - 7.0 12

Subsidiary protection 15 415 12 820 16 315 14 065 11 835 12 185 - 5.0 + 3.0 10

Syria 8 255 6 610 8 480 6 920 5 725 5 755 - 13 + 0.5 47

Eritrea 835 610 2 200 1 735 900 1 330 + 118 + 48 10.9

Afghanistan 1 035 1 080 1 225 1 030 1 125 1 180 +9. 3 + 4.9 9.7

Somalia 920 885 735 695 565 520 - 41 - 8.0 4.3

Iraq 395 425 530 475 395 410 - 3.5 + 3.8 3.4

Pakistan 235 215 275 315 355 410 + 91 + 15 3.4

Stateless 1 790 1 125 965 720 625 310 - 72 - 50 2.5

Ukraine 5 10 45 155 175 300 +2 900 + 71 2.5

Nigeria 265 185 175 200 260 225 + 22 - 13 1.8

Libya 30 15 15 60 150 175 +1 067 + 17 1.4

Other 1 650 1 660 1 670 1 760 1 560 1 570 -5.4 +0. 6 13

Humanitarian protection 5 055 5 490 5 910 5 865 5 820 6 200 + 13 + 6.5 4.9Syria 680 690 830 645 730 625 -9.4 -14 10Gambia 195 275 325 285 420 590 + 115 + 40 10Nigeria 300 290 480 430 455 580 + 100 + 27 9.4Afghanistan 830 920 930 815 615 570 - 38 - 7.3 9.2Mali 375 430 470 420 390 560 + 30 + 44 9.0Pakistan 250 295 290 355 265 345 + 17 + 30 5.6Senegal 100 195 255 195 215 245 + 26 + 14 4.0Eritrea 100 110 135 125 160 225 + 105 + 41 3.6Ukraine 15 25 60 80 110 185 + 640 + 68 3.0Bangladesh 55 80 55 85 130 160 + 100 + 23 2.6Other 2 155 2 180 2 080 2 430 2 330 2 115 - 3.0 -9.2 34

Rejected 48 740 49 110 46 845 62 470 68 310 66 075 +35 -3.3 53Kosovo 2 750 2 555 2 790 4 545 12 795 13 460 + 427 + 5 20Albania 2 995 3 765 3 135 2 685 2 640 5 500 + 46 + 108 8Serbia 5 020 3 620 3 430 9 800 8 390 4 985 + 38 - 41 7.5Pakistan 3 085 3 035 2 620 2 965 3 455 2 885 - 4.9 - 16 4.4Nigeria 1 705 1 815 2 040 2 220 2 410 2 585 + 42 + 7.3 3.9Russia 2 495 2 250 2 305 2 455 2 230 2 555 + 14 + 15 3.9Bangladesh 1 910 1 615 1 400 1 835 1 955 1 965 + 22 + 0.5 3.0MK* 1 870 1 385 1 330 3 615 2 425 1 855 + 34 - 24 2.8Congo (DR) 1 115 1 480 1 560 1 800 1 615 1 740 + 18 7.7 2.6Ukraine 160 395 710 1 200 1 110 1 685 + 327 + 52 2.6Other 25 635 27 195 25 525 29 350 29 285 26 860 - 1.2 -8.3 41

20152014

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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

ISAF International Security Armed Forces

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

new easo quarterly asylum report quarter 2, 2015 · 2020. 7. 17. · easo quarterly report — q2...

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