Eurostat figures show 137,000 first time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the EU-28 during the second quarter of 2018,down by 12 per cent when compared with the second quarter of 2017 (when 156,000 first time applicants were registered), but an increase of 4 per cent when compared with first quarter of 2018 (131,365 first time applicants).
The largest numbers of first time applicants in the EU-28 (from April to June 2018), were recorded in:
- Germany: 33,700 (25% of overall applicants)
- France: 26,100 (19%)
- Greece: 16,300 (12%)
- Spain: 16,200 (12%)
- Italy: 13,700 (10%)
The five main countries of citizenship of asylum applicants during the second quarter of 2018 were:
- Syria: 18,315 (13%)
- Afghanistan: 9,155 (7%)
- Iraq: 8,355 (6%)
- Venezuela: 7,560 (6%)
- Nigeria: 5,885 (4%)
In the second quarter of 2018, 53,510 (37%) first instance decisions on asylum applications taken by EU Member States were positive.
Key figures for Ireland
Ireland received 670 first time asylum applications from April to June 2018 compared to 675 in second quarter of 2017.
The main countries of citizenship of applicants in Ireland were:
- Georgia: 80 (12%)
- Albania: 70 (10%)
- Zimbabwe: 60 (9%)
- Nigeria: 50 (7%)
- Pakistan: 45 (7%)
In Ireland, 345 (95%) first instance decisions on asylum applications taken in the second quarter of 2018 were positive.
For more information:
See: Eurostat Asylum quarterly report (second quarter 2018)
