European Commission Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum 2013

22 May 2014

The European Commission has published the 5th Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum (2013).

The Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum and accompanying Commission Staff Working Document [1] highlight developments at both EU and national levels.

Key findings:

  • According to Eurostat data, at the beginning of 2013, 20.4 million (4% of the EU population) third-country nationals resided in the EU.
  • First residence permits issued to third-country nationals in the EU, amounted to almost 2.1 million in 2012 [2]:
    • 32% were given for family reasons
    • 23% for remunerated activities
    • 22% for study, and
    • 23% for other reasons (including international protection).
  • The countries whose nationals were given the highest number of first permits are:
    • United States of America (200,000 representing 9.5% from the EU total)
    • Ukraine (163,000 or approx 7.5% from EU total)
    • China and (161,000 or approx 7.5% from EU total), and
    • India (157,000 or approx 7.5% from EU total).
  • During 2013, there were 434,160 asylum applicants, an increase of almost 30% from 2012 (336,015 asylum applicants [3]).
  • The largest group of applicants came from:
    • Syria (50,470 or 12% of all applicants)
    • Russian Federation (41,270 or 10%), and
    • Afghanistan (26,290 or 6%).
  • Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Italy registered nearly 70% of all applicants:
    • Germany (126,705 or 29% of the total)
    • France (64,760 or 14%)
    • Sweden (54,270 or 12%)
    • United Kingdom (29,875 or 6%), and
    • Italy (27,930 or 6%).
  • 12,425 unaccompanied minors applied for international protection. The largest group of applicants came from:
    • Afghanistan (3,310)
    • Somalia (1,580)
    • Syria (1,010), and
    • Eritrea (715).
  • 317,840 persons were refused entry [4]  to the EU and approximately 166,470 non-EU citizens were returned [5] to third countries.

For further information:

See Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum  and accompanying European Commission Staff Working Document.

[1] Contributions provided by the National Contact Points of the European Migration Network (EMN NCPs)

[2] Eurostat data for 2012. 2013 data will become available in July 2013.
[3] Excludes Croatia
[4] Eurostat; 2013 data not available for EL
[5] Eurostat; 2013 data not available for EL

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