EASO Quarterly Asylum Report Quarter 3, 2015 · EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q3 2015 5 Section 1:...

European Asylum Support Office

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EASO

Quarterly Asylum Report

Quarter 3, 2015

EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q3 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 ................................................................................................. 20

Syria ................................................................................................................................ 20

Western Balkans ............................................................................................................. 23

Afghanistan ..................................................................................................................... 26

Iraq .................................................................................................................................. 28

Annex I – Statistical overview .................................................................................................. 32

Overview of asylum a pplicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered

in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q2 2014 – Q3 2015 ....................................................... 32

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

Q3 2015 ........................................................................................................................... 33

Annex II – List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................... 34


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 18 January 20164.

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 89 % (459 975) compared to the previous

quarter (Q2 2015: 242 845) 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 was even larger: +135 % and + 255 %,

respectively.

Three times more applications by Syrians were registered in EU+ countries in Q3 2015

than in Q2, totalling more than 148 000. Syrian applicants were predominant compared

to the other main nationalities applying for international protection in EU+ countries.

Apart from Syria, the top five citizenships of asylum applicants was made up of

Afghanistan, Western Balkan nationalities as a group (mostly Kosovo and Albania), Iraq

and Pakistan, combined accounting for 72 % of all applications in Q3 2015.

Germany and Hungary were still the main countries of destination, receiving 50 % of the

total of asylum applicants registered in the EU+ in Q3 2015. Hungary reported the largest

absolute increase compared to Q2, with 75 935 more applications. Most EU+ countries

saw their totals increasing.

Trends in decisions at first instance

142 070 first-instance decisions on international protection were issued at EU+ level, an increase of 14 % compared to Q2 2015.

The average recognition rate based on all first-instance decisions issued in the EU+ was 48 %, similar to Q2 2015.

In 14 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 increased strongly at the end of September 2015, totalling 842 875, or 37 % more than the level recorded at the end of June 20158.

Key trends in focus

Syria – Syrian applicants remained the main citizenship of applicants for international protection. The number of Syrian applicants rose throughout Q3 2015 to reach 148 460 applications, triple the number compared to Q2. This substantial increase overshadowed the increases recorded for other nationalities.

Western Balkans – After the major drop in applications from the six Western Balkan countries in Q2 2015, Q3 saw the numbers increase again by 10 %, mostly due to more applications by Albanian nationals.

Afghanistan – Afghan applicants doubled for the second consecutive quarter and, with 61 905 applications, reached a new quarterly high.

Iraq – Asylum applicants from Iraq increased three-fold compared to Q2 2015, reaching an unprecedented 47 485 applicants in Q3.

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 in the third quarter of 2015 rose by 89 % (459 975)

compared to the previous quarter (Q2 2015: 242 845). This is the highest quarterly total since

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

third quarter of 2014 and of 2013 the increase is even larger: +139 % and +262 %, respectively.

As in previous years, a rise in the third quarter has been preceded by a rise in the second

quarter (and followed by a drop in the fourth), but in 2015 the increase was much larger than

in previous years (Figure 1).

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

Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

In comparing the monthly trend for the past three years (Figure 2), the inflow of applicants

was substantially higher in the first three quarters of 2015 than in the same period of 2013

and 2014. The year started with an increase followed by a drop in applicants in February and

March, mostly linked to flows of Kosovar applicants. From April, the numbers increased, more

rapidly than in 2013 and 2014, and this evolution strengthened to a steep rise in the third

quarter. In June, close to 100 000 persons lodged an application for international protection

in the EU+, and in September this number rose to more than 175 000.

Figure 2: Total asylum applicants in the EU+ since January 2013 (monthly trend) Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

9 Total applicants: all persons having submitted an application for international protection as defined in Article 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.


Figure 3: Main citizenships/groups of citizenship10 of asylum applicants, Q3 2014 – Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

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

registered in the EU+. Q3 of 2015 was the fourth consecutive quarter that the composition of

the top 3 nationalities (or groups) did not change. Following the significant drop in the number

of Western Balkan (WB) applicants (-42 %) in Q2, which was linked to administrative measures

taken in some EU+ countries of destination, in Q3 the number of WB applicants rose by 10 %.

This latest increase, however, was small in relation to increases in the other top five

nationalities. Similar to Q1 2015, Pakistan replaced Eritrea in the top five.

The number of Syrian asylum applications tripled compared to Q2 2015. Syria was the top

main nationality of applicants in Q3 and at more than 148 000, applications by Syrian nationals

comprised one-third of all applications in the EU+. Compared to the Q3 of 2014, there were

three times more Syrian applications registered.

Figure 3b: Main citizenships/group of citizenships of asylum applicants in Q3 2015, Total & Repeated Applicants Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

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.

Syria34%

Afghanistan14%Western Balkans

12%

OTHERS11%

Iraq11%

Pakistan5%

Eritrea4%

Nigeria3%

Bangladesh2%

Somalia2%

Russia2%

Total Applicants: 461 285

Syria11%

Afghanistan6%

Western Balkans

44%

OTHERS18%

Iraq5%

Pakistan3%

Eritrea2%

Nigeria2%

Bangladesh1%

Somalia2%

Russia6%

Repeated Applicants:

17 880


In Q3 2015, 75 % of Syrian applications were lodged in Hungary, Germany and Sweden. Syrian

applications doubled in Germany, Hungary received six times the number of applications of

Q2, and Sweden four and a half times. Given the high share of withdrawn applications in

Hungary, Syrians applying for asylum in the other destination countries may previously have

made a claim in Hungary.

For the second consecutive quarter, applications by Afghan citizens more than doubled in

Q3 2015 to over 60 000 applications. This is almost six times the number of Afghan applicants

reported quarterly in 2014. As in Q2 2015, Hungary was the main country of registration in Q3

with almost half of all Afghan applications in the EU+. One-third of applications were lodged

in Sweden, Germany and Austria with Sweden recording a significant relative increase.

The number of applications in the EU+ from Western Balkans nationals was 50 635, a 10 %

increase compared to Q2 2015 and double the number recorded in Q3 of 2014. The influx of

applicants from Albania again doubled compared to Q2 2015 and increased seven-fold

compared to Q3 2014, reaching a total of almost 28 000 applications. Albanians represented

55 % of all Western Balkan applicants in Q3, compared to 41 % in Q2. The number of Kosovar

nationals continued to fall, as in Q2, and in Q3 represented just 11 % of all Western Balkan

applicants. Following high levels in Q1, the number of Kosovar applications fell sharply in Q2

and in that quarter EU+ countries recorded 40 430 less applications than in the first quarter

of 2015 (78 % decrease). Applications from nationals of the other Western Balkan countries

displayed different patterns. Applications from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

increased by one-third while Montenegrin applications decreased by 17 %. Applicants from

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia were relatively unchanged with about 2 410 and 7 925

applications registered, respectively. Similar to Q2 2015, most WB nationals applied for

asylum in Germany (82 %).

A total of 47 485 asylum applications by Iraqi nationals were reported in EU+ countries during

Q3 2015. This represented about 10 % of the total for the quarter. With the threefold increase

compared to the second quarter, Iraq was again fourth in the ranking of the top main

nationalities of applicants. Whereas in Q2 the main countries of destination for Iraqi

applicants were Germany, Austria and Hungary, in Q3, Finland was the main destination with

one quarter of all Iraqi applicants, totalling 11 610 applications. Other destination countries

each receiving 10 % or more the EU+ total of applications from Iraqi nationals included

Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Austria and Sweden.

The number of applications from Pakistani nationals surpassed that of Eritreans and in Q3

Pakistan entered the top five main nationalities for asylum applications in the EU+ (as in Q1

2015). The number more than doubled compared to Q2, reaching a total of 21 905

applications. Most of the increase was in Hungary, which registered almost 12 000 Pakistani

applications in Q3. Other main destination countries for Pakistani applicants include Italy,

Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom.

Despite Eritrea no longer being among the top five citizenships, applications by Eritreans

continued to rise (33 %), the highest relative increase in applications, about three and a half

times the level of the first quarter of 2015, in line with the pattern observed in 2014.


Some other nationalities also recorded large relative increases compared to the previous

quarter (Figure 4). The number of Bangladeshi asylum applicants more than doubled, with

large increases in applications registered in Hungary and Italy (about +3 000 each).

Figure 4: Main countries of origin of asylum applicants in the EU+, percentage change from Q2 2015 to Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18 January 2016

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

nationalities of asylum applicants in Q3 2015. Among the main features were:

The Syrian flow to the EU+ remained comprised largely of young single men, but also

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

subsequently seek to be joined by their families via family reunification procedures

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

More than 90 % of all Afghan asylum applicants were younger than 34 years and 44 %

of the total group were minors. According to data from the EASO Early warning and

Preparedness System (EPS), many of these minors were unaccompanied. The number

of Afghan minors has increased by 9 % compared to Q2 2015.

The vast majority of asylum applicants from Iraq were young adult men, aged 18-34

years, fleeing the tense situation in their country of origin. The flow of asylum seekers

from Pakistan was comprised almost entirely of adult men (94 %).

Albanian applicants were largely comprised of families arriving with children (0-13);

this is typical of applicants coming from Western Balkans countries which was

highlighted in EASO’s WB report on comparative analysis of trends, push-pull factors

and responses11;

11 EASO, Asylum applicants from the Western Balkans: Comparative analysis of trends, push-pull factors and responses – Update, May 2015.

212 % 205 %

156 %

137 %

113 %

76 %

50 %36 %

7 % 5 %0%

50%

100%

150%

200%

250%

Syri

a

Ira

q

Ban

glad

esh

Paki

stan

Afg

hani

stan

Nig

eri

a

Alb

an

ia

Erit

rea

Som

alia

Serb

ia

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 five countries of origin, by gender and age, Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18 January 2016

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

countries in Q3 2015 compared to Q2. An overall increase in asylum applications, to a varying

extent, has been reported in all but six EU+ countries. In terms of absolute numbers, Germany

and Hungary were the main countries of destination, together receiving 50 % of all applicants

registered in the EU+ in Q3. The highest relative increase compared to Q2 was reported by

Finland (+835 %; +13 560). Registrations of applications in Germany and Sweden increased by

more than 61 275 in absolute numbers (+35 % and +177 % respectively). Many countries

registered significantly12 more applicants, including Austria (+57 %; +10 250), Belgium

(+142 %; +9 410), Denmark (+119 %; +3 015), France (+17 %; +2 690), Hungary (+229 %;

+75 935), Italy (+90 %; +13 525), the Netherlands (+127 %; +8 550), Norway (+194 %; +5 725),

Switzerland (+67 %; +4 955) and the United Kingdom (+59 %; +4 455).

However, no significant decrease compared to the second quarter of 2015 was registered in

any of the reporting countries.

12 An increase of at least 2 000 compared to Q2 2015


Figure 6: Total asylum applicants in European destination countries in Q2 and Q3 of 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016


Section 2: Trends in decisions at first instance

First-instance decisions on international protection issued in the EU+ are displayed in Map 1

for the top 25 countries of origin of applicants during the third quarter of 2015. The main

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

mostly granted some type of protection (the two types of EU-regulated international

protection statuses, refugee and subsidiary protection, plus national humanitarian protection)

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

which applicants were mostly rejected, characterised by a more purple pie chart (Western

Balkans, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, the Russian Federation and Ukraine).

Map 1: Main citizenships of applicants, first instance decisions and positive decisions issued in the EU+ during Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016; Note: the groups “Stateless” and “Unknown” citizenships, which ranked, respectively, 16th and 19th in the EU+, are not plotted in the map

Number of decisions During the third quarter of 2015, 142 070 first-instance decisions on international protection

were issued in the EU+, an increase of 14 % compared to the second quarter. The number of

first-instance decisions issued remained well above 100 000 for the fourth consecutive

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

international protection registered during the period. This was an increase of 54 % compared

to the third quarter of 2014, when 92 460 decisions were issued.

The majority of first-instance decisions issued in the third quarter of 2015 were reported by

Germany (54 270, 38 % of the total), France (19 735, 14 %) and Italy (19 645, 14 %). These

countries together accounted for 66 % of all first-instance decisions issued in the EU+. A

significant number of decisions were also issued by Sweden (11 405, 8 %), the United Kingdom


(8 700, 6 % of the total), Switzerland (5 025, 4 %), the Netherlands (4 530, 3 %) and Belgium

(4 425, 3 %).

In comparison with Q2 2015, the sharpest increases in the number of first-instance decisions

were reported by Cyprus (+81 %), the Netherlands (+48 %) and Italy (+43 %). In Cyprus, there

was a doubling in the number of decisions on Syrian applications, while for the Netherlands

the rise was due to more decisions issued to both Syrian and, in particular, Eritrean applicants.

In Italy, the rise resulted from an increase in decisions issued to a range of applicants, mostly

those from Sub-Saharan African countries (Nigeria, the Gambia, Mali and Senegal). In Figure 7

the bar charts indicate the number of decisions issued by EU+ countries at first instance (in

blue), the recognition rates13 (in per cent) and the type of protection granted.

Figure 7: First-instance decisions and type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q3 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, often they are 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;

13 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.

54 270 Germany

19 735 France

19 645 Italy

11 405 Sweden

8 700 United Kingdom

5 025 Switzerland

4 530 Netherlands

4 425 Belgium

2 525 Denmark

2 500 Greece

2 175 Norway

2 000 Bulgaria

970 Poland

820 Spain

720 Finland

705 Cyprus

530 Hungary

370 Malta

315 Romania

300 Czech Republic

235 Ireland

150 Portugal

150 Luxembourg

75 Croatia

75 Latvia

50 Estonia

35 Lithuania

25 Slovakia

15 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 protection.14

Recognition Rate In the third quarter of 2015, 49 % of all first-instance decisions issued at EU+ level resulted in

a positive outcome, matching the share recorded during the second quarter of 2015 and for

all quarters of 201415.

Figure 8: Type of decisions issued in the EU+, Q3 2015


This aggregate EU+ level recognition rate, however, varied widely among EU+ countries. In 14

countries, more than half of the decisions issued at first instance during the third quarter of

2015 were positive. This was the case for Bulgaria (92 % of 2 000 decisions); Malta (86 % of

370); Cyprus (82 % of 705); Sweden (80 % of 11 405); Denmark (75 % of 2 525); Norway (72 %

of 2 175); the Netherlands (71 % of 4 530); Slovenia (67 % of 15); Switzerland (64 % of 5 025);

Portugal (63 % of 150); Slovakia (60 % of 25); Estonia (60 % of 50); Finland (56 % of 725);

Belgium (54 % of 4 425) and Germany (50 % of 54 270).

The charts in Figure 9 show the evolution over two years from Q3 2013 to Q3 2015 of the type

of decisions issued at first instance for the top five (single) countries of origin of applicants

registered in EU+ countries. Decisions include positive decisions (refugee status, subsidiary

protection and humanitarian protection) or rejections.

14 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). 15 See footnote 6.

Refugee status34%

Subsidiary protection10%

Humanitarian protection5%

Rejected51%


Figure 9: Evolution of first-instance decisions issued since Q3 2013 for the top five countries of origin of applicants; Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

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

98 %16, two percentage points higher than the rate in the second quarter of 2015, while the

overall number of decisions issued decreased by 27 %. Refugee status accounted for 74 % of

the first-instance decisions issued to Syrian applicants in EU+ countries, 2 % higher than the

proportion of refugee status granted in Q2 2015. Germany issued the highest number of

decisions to Syrian applicants (18 130, +35 % compared to Q2 2015) and in 99 % of these cases

granted refugee status.

The recognition rate for Albanian applicants decreased from 4 % to a low of only 1 %.

Simultaneously, the total number of decisions tripled, mostly reflecting an increase of

decisions in Germany (+314 %). As in the second quarter, Germany prioritised decisions on

Albanian cases.

The recognition rate for Afghan applicants fell two percentage points compared to the

previous quarter to 69 % at EU+ level. However, the total number of decisions increased by

6 %, the first rise since Q1 2014. The distribution by type of protection granted to Afghans

changed only slightly over the period since Q4 2014 (illustrated in the Figure 9) with a

moderate increase in the number of decisions granting subsidiary protection.

16 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 total number of decisions on Pakistani applicants increased by 9 % compared to Q2 2015

while the recognition rate decreased two percentage points to 25%. This is the second-lowest

recognition rate among the top five nationalities, after Albanians. Over the past two years the

EU+ recognition rate for Pakistani applicants has fluctuated between 20 and 30 %, ranging

from 19 % in Q3 2013 up to 30 % in Q3 2014. Also over this period, the share of first-instance

decisions granting refugee status has decreased whereas increased shares of granting both

subsidiary and humanitarian protection were reported.

The recognition rate for Iraqis remained stable throughout the first three quarters of 2015 at

87 %, after rising significantly compared to two years ago (51 % in Q3 2013). The higher

recognition rates (more decisions granting of refugee status) have reflected the deterioration

in the security situation in several Iraqi provinces that started in 2014.

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

issued during Q3 of 2015 (down two percentage points), while decisions granting subsidiary

protection and humanitarian protection comprised 10 % (up one percentage point) and 5 %

(no change), respectively.

Refugee status

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

(96 %), Greece (94 %), the United Kingdom (88 %), Norway (90 %) and Belgium (86 %) 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 third quarter of 2015.

Table 1: First instance positive decisions issued refugee status, Q3 2015, by citizenship of applicants

(only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q3 2015)


EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Refugee

Status

Ratio of Refugee

Status in Positive

Decisions

Germany 27 140 26 170 96%Syria 18 170 18 130 100%Iraq 3 400 3 330 98%Eritrea 1 700 1 525 90%Other 3 870 3 185 82%

Greece 1 200 1 125 94%Syria 935 935 100%Afghanistan 70 40 57%Stateless 20 20 100%Other 175 130 74%

United Kingdom 3 220 2 830 88%Sudan 690 685 99%Syria 605 590 98%Iran 400 390 98%Other 1 525 1 165 76%

Norway 1 570 1 415 90%Eritrea 625 620 99%Syria 335 330 99%Stateless 140 125 89%Other 470 340 72%

Belgium 2 380 2 055 86%Syria 730 705 97%Unknown 185 185 100%Guinea 170 170 100%Other 1 295 995 77%


Subsidiary protection

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

issued during the third quarter of 2015, were registered in Cyprus (92 %), Spain (82 %), Malta

(75 %), Hungary (68 %), and Sweden (60 %). Table 2 below shows the principal citizenships of

asylum applicants mainly granted subsidiary protection status in these five EU+ countries.

Table 2: First instance positive decisions issued and subsidiary protection, Q3 2015, by citizenship of

applicants (only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q3 2015)


Humanitarian protection17

Of the 18 EU+ countries for which this type of protection is reported, Italy (55 %), Switzerland

(38 %) and Poland (11 %) were the main countries granting humanitarian protection in

positive decisions issued in the third quarter of 2015.

Table 3: First instance positive decisions issued and humanitarian protection, Q3 2015, by citizenship

of applicants (only countries that issued more than 300 decisions in Q3 2015)


17 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).

EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Subsidiary

protection

Ratio of Subsidiary

Protection in

Positive Decisions

Cyprus 575 530 92%Syria 525 520 99%Stateless 25 0 0%Iraq 15 0 0%

Other 10 10 100%

Spain 220 180 82%Syria 130 125 96%Somalia 45 40 89%Palestine 5 5 100%Other 90 55 61%

Malta 320 240 75%Libya 215 165 77%Syria 50 50 100%Ukraine 25 0 0%Other 30 25 83%

Hungary 110 75 68%Syria 30 20 67%Somalia 20 15 75%Afghanistan 20 15 75%Other 40 25 63%

Sweden 9 120 5 455 60%Syria 5815 5210 90%Eritrea 1575 35 2%Stateless 855 105 12%Other 875 105 12%

EU+ country

Citizenship

Positive

decisions

Humanitarian

protection

Ratio of Humanitarian

Protection in Positive

Decisions

Italy 7 850 4 325 55%Gambia 895 770 86%Nigeria 965 630 65%Mali 710 465 65%

Other 5 280 2 460 47%

Switzerland 3 235 1 240 38%Syria 890 530 60%Afghanistan 165 115 70%Eritrea 1 070 110 10%

Other 1 110 485 44%

Poland 3 220 365 11%Afghanistan 165 60 36%Albania 55 55 100%Eritrea 385 50 13%Other 3 055 305 10%


Stock of pending cases

The stock of pending cases18 at the end of September 2015 totalled 842 875, a significant 37 %

rise with 229 660 more cases pending than at the end of June 2015. The stock, which has risen

more or less consecutively for each quarter from Q2 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


Germany (366 190), Hungary (107 420) and Sweden (85 760) were the EU+ countries with the

highest stock of pending cases at the end of September 2015.

The highest relative increases in pending cases, compared to Q2 2015, were registered in

Finland (+535 %) and in Hungary (+340 %). The largest absolute increases were reported by

Hungary (+82 990), Germany (+60 180) and Sweden (+29 755). The increase in Finland

followed an increase in pending cases of Iraqi applicants, which rose from 765 in Q2 to 12 245

in Q3. Hungary reported a significant increase in pending cases of applicants from Syria,

Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, as well as those of unknown citizenship. The

increase resulted from a large number of applications (109 175) combined with a low number

of first-instance decisions made (530) during the quarter. In Germany, there was a strong rise

in the number of pending cases of Syrian, Albanian and Afghan nationals, respectively

increasing by 65 %, 45 % and 30 %. This rise stems from the influx of asylum applicants of

these nationalities, which was not offset by a higher number of first-instance decisions taken

during the quarter for these nationalities.

18 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. 19 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.


Among the other EU+ countries, Norway (+146 %), the Netherlands (+129 %), Belgium (+85 %)

Denmark (+56 %), Switzerland (+40 %) and Poland (+23 %) registered a significant20 increase

in their stock of pending cases at the end of September compared to end of June 2015. In

almost all of these countries, there was a higher influx of applicants for international

protection along with similar or lower number of decisions issued. In contrast, France, Greece

and Cyprus had a lower stock of pending cases at the end of September compared to the end

of June, despite a higher influx of applicants.

Figure 11: Stock of pending cases as of 30 September 2015 and percentage change in pending cases

from 30 June 2014 to 30 September 2015 by reporting EU+ country

Source: Eurostat data as of: 18 January 201621

Figure 12: Stock of pending cases as of 30 September 2015 and percentage change in pending cases from 30 June 2015 to 30 September 2015 by main countries of origin Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

20 Significant in this case means more than 15% and 250 cases. 21 Data on the stock of pending cases not available for Austria.


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

between Q2 2015 and Q3 2015 for the top 10 citizenships recorded in Q3 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 June.

With almost 165 000 Syrian applicants awaiting a decision at the end of June, the highest

number of pending cases for the sixth consecutive quarter was for Syrian applications,

following a 129 % rise compared to the end of June. The stock of Afghan applicants awaiting

a decision represented the second-largest group in the EU+ at the end of September with

more than 85 000 pending cases, moving up from third position in the second quarter. For

both nationalities, the rise in pending stock followed an increase in applications which

exceeded the number of first-instance decisions. The stock of pending cases of Iraqi applicants

had the largest relative increase, moving it from seventh largest citizenship in Q2 to third

largest in Q3. This followed a three-fold increase in asylum applications by Iraqi nationals,

while the number of decisions issued in the quarter did not change much from Q2 2015.

The stock of Kosovar pending cases at EU+ level decreased further by 8 % in the third quarter

of 2015 to 29 025 cases. As a result, Kosovo moved down to seventh position in the ranking

of citizenships with the most pending cases.


Section 3: Key trends in focus

Figure 13: Main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+, Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of: 18 January 2016

Syria For the second consecutive quarter, Syria was the main citizenship of asylum applicants in EU+

countries. EU+ countries registered 148 460 applications from Syrians, three times the

number in Q2 2015 and in Q3 2014. The number of Syrian applicants rose each month,

culminating in more than 61 000 applications in September.

In Syria, in almost all governorates, the security situation deteriorated over the summer

months and fighting intensified.22 At the same time, the need for humanitarian aid to Syrians

inside of Syria has been greater than the availability.23 As a result, more and more Syrians left

their country and moved towards neighbouring countries and Europe. The total number of

Syrian refugees registered outside the EU was estimated in January 2016 at 4 597 436.24 Most

of these refugees are registered in Turkey and Lebanon but also in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and

other north-African countries. During the third quarter, 61 187 Syrians were newly registered,

far less than the number of Syrians who applied for international protection during the same

period in EU+ countries. Based on these figures, compared to previous quarters, the

proportion of those who have fled Syria (and have been registered in neighbouring countries)

and have decided to come to the EU+ has increased. Countries in the region, faced with large

numbers of refugees, have taken measures to stem the inflow, such as border control

22 UNHCR, Worsening conditions inside Syria and the region fuel despair, driving thousands towards Europe, UNHCR.org of 8

September 2015, accessed on 27 January 2016. 23 Syria conflict will displace another million people, says UN official, The Guardian of 12 September 2015, accessed on 27

January 2016. 24 UNHCR, Syria Regional Refugee Response, data.unhcr.org of 19 January 2016, accessed 27 January 2016.

Total

Syria

WB

Iraq

Pakistan

Eritrea

Nigeria

Somalia

Stateless

Unknown

Russia

Sudan

Senegal

Mali

Ghana

Ethiopia

Algeria

Others

32%

13%

11%

10%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

0%

0%

0%

0%

9%

Syria

Afghanistan

WB

Iraq

Pakistan

Eritrea

Nigeria

Bangladesh

Somalia

Stateless

Unknown

Russia

Sudan

The Gambia

Senegal

Mali

Ghana

Ethiopia

Côte d'Ivoire

Algeria

Others

0 20 000 40 000 60 000 80 000 100 000 120 000 140 000 160 000

Repeated applications

First-time applications

Series3XX% - Share of EU+ total for Q3 2015

461 285 Asylum applications

http://www.unhcr.org/55eed5d66.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/12/syria-conflict-will-see-1m-more-refugees-leave-says-un-official?CMP=share_btn_tw

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


measures and additional requirements for refugees to extend their stay,25 which may have

contributed to an increase in the number of Syrian asylum-seekers moving towards the EU+.

In addition, policy changes in the EU+ have also influenced the increase in Syrian applicants.

In August, Germany suspended some provisions of the Dublin Regulation for Syrian asylum

seekers. As a result, Germany stopped sending Syrian applicants back to the first country of

entry into the EU, mostly Greece.26

Throughout the third quarter, Syrian nationals arrived irregularly to the EU+ via the Eastern

Mediterranean route, crossing from Turkey towards the Greek Islands (Lesvos, Chios, Samos

and Kos). The increase in arrivals of Syrian nationals along this route was substantial: more

than 224 000 Syrian nationals were detected illegally crossing the external sea borders, and

another 3 000 crossing land borders.27 This increase in arrivals was reflected in the increase in

asylum applications in Hungary and, to a lesser extent, Austria.

Map 2: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

As shown in map 2, the influx of Syrian applicants in Q3 2015 was concentrated in Hungary

(37 % of the total EU+ applications), followed by Germany (25 %), Sweden (13 %) and Austria

(8 %). These four EU+ countries accounted for 81 % of the total number of Syrian applicants

25 UNHCR, International protection considerations with regard to people fleeing the Syrian Arab Republic : Update IV,

November 2015, accessed 27 January 2016. 26 Germany suspends Dublin agreement for Syrian refugees, Euractiv 26 August 2015, accessed 21 January 2016. 27 Frontex, FRAN Quarterly: Quarter 3 – July-September 2015, Warsaw, January 2015

http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/1930_1448979912_5641ef894.pdf

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/germany-suspends-dublin-agreement-syrian-refugees-317065

Frontex,%20FRAN%20Quarterly:%20Quarter%203%20–%20July-September%202015,%20Warsaw,%20January%202015.


registered in Q3 2015. The influx of applicants followed a migration route via the Western

Balkans region and onward to main destination countries in the northern part of the EU+.

As Figure 17 shows, the number of Syrian applicants increased in the third quarter of 2015 for

almost all main destination countries compared to Q2 2015. These increases were

exponential: the highest relative increase was registered for Norway with an increase of

921 %, and the highest absolute increase was reported by Hungary with almost + 45 000

applications more than in Q2 2015. In some countries the numbers decreased slightly, such as

Bulgaria (-300), Spain (-500), Latvia (-100) and Romania (-100). In Germany, the number of

applications by Syrians more than doubled and the largest rise was registered in September

with more than 60 % more applications than in August. Syrians were in the top three

citizenships of applicants of 20 EU+ countries, similar to the previous three quarters.

Figure 17: Distribution of Syrian asylum applicants in the EU+, Q2 2015 and Q3 2015


Figure 18: First-instance decisions and type of decisions issued in Q3 2015 to Syrian applicants (only

countries that issued more than 100 decisions in Q3 2015)


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18 415 Germany

5 880 Sweden

1 775 Bulgaria

1 350 Netherlands

1 065 Denmark

940 Greece

930 Switzerland

930 France

755 Belgium

685 United Kingdom

525 Cyprus

360 Norway

170 Poland

150 Italy

140 Spain

115 Romania

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Refugee Status Subsidiary Protection

Humanitarian Protection

05 00010 00015 00020 000


As shown in Figure 18, the type of positive decisions granted to Syrians in Q3 2015 varied

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

Greece, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Norway, Poland and Italy predominantly granted

Syrians refugee status, Sweden, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Spain and Romania more often

granted subsidiary protection status.

In Q3 2015, Switzerland was the main receiving EU+ country with the highest share of

humanitarian protection granted to Syrians, with more than half of all decisions issued at first

instance on Syrian cases granting to humanitarian protection.

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

applicants was of 164 720 persons, representing the largest single citizenship caseload in the

EU+ countries and more than twice as high as at the end of the second quarter of 2015. In 8

out of 30 EU+ countries the stock of pending cases more than doubled. The increase was most

apparent for Hungary, the first EU+ country along the Western Balkan route where Syrian

nationals lodged their applications. A nine-fold increase of the pending stock was reported in

Q3 2015, comprised of 45 170 more pending cases than in the previous quarter. Large

increases in the stock were registered for Germany and Sweden with respectively 20 160 and

12 025 more cases pending than in the previous quarter. In percentage terms, substantial

growth of the pending stock was seen also in Norway, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Finland

and Belgium. Italy was the country with the largest relative decrease in its already low number

of cases awaiting a first-instance decision, following the shift of arrivals via the Eastern

Mediterranean rather than the Central Mediterranean route. Despite new highs in the

number of Syrians arriving, Greece reported a low number of applications, similar to Q2 2015

and Greece was able to bring about a slight reduction in the stock of pending cases by 12 %.

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

countries combined totalled nearly 50 000. The drop in numbers after the quarterly high in

the first quarter of 2015 did not continue later into the second quarter, and in the third,

applications again increased slightly by 10 %. This brings the total number of Western Balkan

applicants close to the high levels recorded at the end of 2014 and double the number of WB

applicants of Q3 2014.

The drop in the second quarter of 2015 was almost entirely due to fewer Kosovar applicants,

which followed the unprecedented influx from Kosovo in the first quarter. The influx fell

rapidly following measures taken by Germany, Austria, and Hungary, such as returns,

informative advertisements in the main countries of origin, and increased border surveillance.

The subsequent rise in WB applicants in Q3 2015 is due to more applications by mostly

Albanian nationals.


Figure 14: Western Balkan applicants in EU+ countries, quarterly trend since 2013 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

In Q3 2015, Albanian nationals continued to be the most represented WB nationality, followed

by Serbian and Kosovar applicants. These three countries combined accounted for 82 % of the

WB total. As the chart above shows, in Q3 2015 the number of Albanian applicants continued

an upward trend that started in the last quarter of 2014 and increased by half compared to

the previous quarter, totalling more than 27 000 applications. Unlike Kosovar applicants, who

entered irregularly via Hungary, citizens of Albania, who are beneficiaries of the visa-

liberalisation regime, travelled directly to their final destination country. Germany continued

to receive the main share of Albanian applicants, comprising 83 % of the total number of

Albanians registered by EU+ countries in Q3 2015.

Applications by Kosovar nationals continued to decline, after falling 78% in Q2 2015, with a

more modest but still significant decrease in Q3 2015 of 48 %. With a total of 6 080

applications, the level was comparable to Q3 2014, before the large influx that followed at the

end of 2014 and early 2015.

The very large number of Albanian applicants overshadowed what were otherwise significant

numbers from Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and, to a lesser extent,

Montenegro. The number of applicants from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

increased by 34 % compared to Q3 2015, setting a new quarterly high since 2008. Germany

constituted the main country of destination.

The number of Serbian applicants remained relatively stable with an increase of 5 % compared

to the previous quarter, slightly lower than in Q3 2014 (-7 %). Again, the overwhelming

majority (90 %) of Serbian nationals applied in Germany. The number of Bosnian applicants

fell for the second consecutive quarter, to approximately the same level recorded by EU+

countries in the second quarter of 2014.

A total of 1 345 applications from citizens of Montenegro were registered in Q3 2015, a 17 %

decrease compared to Q2 2015 but still four times higher than Q3 2014. The number of

applicants from Bosnia and Herzegovina remained stable at 2 420 (the quarterly totals have

fluctuated around this number for two years). Applicants from these two nationalities, both

0

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20 000

30 000

40 000

50 000

60 000

70 000

80 000

90 000

Q12013

Q2 Q3 Q4 Q12014

Q2 Q3 Q4 Q12015

Q2 Q3

Montenegro FYROM Kosovo Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia Albania


of which are beneficiaries of the EU visa-liberalisation regime, mostly lodged their asylum

claims in Germany.

Figure 15: Distribution of Western Balkan asylum applicants in the EU+, Q2 2015 and Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

Figure 15 shows the change in asylum applicants in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the

second quarter: the number of Western Balkan applicants increased only in 3 of the 19

countries that reported applications in the second quarter. Germany registered 81 % of the

total number of Western Balkan applicants in the EU+. The number of applications in Germany

grew by 10 % compared to Q2 2015.

In Q3 2015, the overall EU+ recognition rate granted to Western Balkan applicants was 2 %.

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

applicants, Italy and Switzerland had recognition rates above 20 %. The United Kingdom’s

recognition rate dropped to 15 % of all first-instance decisions.

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

applicants; only the 10 countries that issued most decisions in Q3 2015 are displayed


As shown in Figure 16, Germany issued by far the most decisions at first instance on Western

Balkan cases (24 725), of which a very small number (90) were positive. The increase was due

0

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2015Q2 2015Q3

24 725 Germany

2 190 France

985 Sweden

500 Belgium

380 United Kingdom

315 Netherlands

260 Switzerland

200 Finland

195 Norway

165 Greece

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



010 00020 00030 000


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.

At the end of June 2015, 126 520 applicants from the Western Balkan countries were awaiting

a decision on their cases in the EU+, an increase of 13 % compared to the end of June 2015,

despite the increase in the number of decisions taken.

Afghanistan

In Q3 2015, Afghan applicants for international protection represented the second-largest

single citizenship of applicants in EU+ countries. After doubling in the second quarter, the

number of Afghan applicants doubled again in the third quarter to 61 905, a new quarterly

high. Compared to Q3 2014, this constituted a five-fold rise with 98 % of these applications

lodged by first-time applicants (i.e. persons who have never applied before in the reporting

EU+ country), similar to Q2 2015.

Map 3: Distribution of Afghan asylum applicants in the EU+, Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

Hungary received the largest number of Afghan applications by far (almost 28 000, or 46 % of

the total), followed by Sweden, Germany and Austria, with 13 %, 12 % and 12 %, respectively.

Applicants from the vast majority of other nationalities who applied in Hungary rapidly

absconded and applied again in other EU+ countries. According to information available from


Frontex28, Afghan nationals have been increasingly detected crossing the border from Turkey

to Greece. As the map shows, they generally did not apply for international protection in

Greece, but rather continued their journey to central/northern Europe via the Western Balkan

route. In the third quarter, Sweden became the second-ranked country among the EU+

receiving countries with the number of applications by Afghans rising more than five-fold

compared to the previous quarter, from 1 410 to 7 635.

Figure 19: Distribution of Afghan asylum applicants in EU+, Q2 2015 and Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

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

EASO’s scenario (mentioned in previous EASO Quarterly Reports) of trends toward higher

flows from the second half of 2014. The EASO COI Report on Afghanistan: Security Situation29

provides evidence that the security situation in the country deteriorated 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 casualties and injuries among

civilians.

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

instance issued to Afghan applicants totalled 4 315 in the third quarter of 2015, representing

only a 10 % increase compared to the second quarter. This is the first increase after one year

of decline in consecutive quarters, but the Q3 2015 total still remains the second lowest

number of decisions issued to Afghans in the last five years. This may suggest some difficulties

in the processing of Afghan cases in EU+ countries given the complexity of the current

situation in this country of origin.

The overall EU+ recognition rate for Afghan applicants was 69 % in Q3 2015. This represents

a two-percentage-point decrease compared to Q2 2015. There was, however, considerable

disparity in the recognition rates at first instance across EU+ countries that issued more than

100 decisions in the quarter, which ranged between 19 % and 97 %. The type of protection

28 Frontex, FRAN Quarterly: Quarter 3 – July-September 2015, Warsaw, January 2015 29 EASO, COI Security Update for Afghanistan, September 2015.

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


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. As for Syrians, in Switzerland most of the first-instance

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

recognition rate higher than the EU+ average (69 %).

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

that issued more than 100 decisions in Q3 2015 are displayed


At the end of September 2015, there were 85 730 pending cases at first instance of Afghan

applicants in the EU+. Compared to the end of March 2015, this constituted a 76 % 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. Most cases were

pending in Germany (34 %) and Hungary (33 %), followed by far by Sweden (12 %). The

increase in pending cases was most significant in Hungary where the stock almost tripled.

Iraq

In Q3 2015, Iraqi applicants for international protection represented the third-largest single

citizenship of applicants in EU+ countries. The number of Iraqi applicants has increased in

consecutive quarters to reach a record level of 47 485 in Q3 2015. This is about 10 times the

quarterly average of Iraqi applications since 2008. Compared to Q2 2015, this is a three-fold

increase and 98 % are first-time applicants.

The increase in the number of Iraqi applicants in the third quarter followed a deterioration in

the security situation in certain regions in Iraq.30 As a result, large numbers of Iraqi were

internally displaced (the IOM estimates the number of internally displaced in Iraq at more

than 3.2 million)31 and more people left the territory of Iraq. Also large numbers of Syrian

refugees arriving in the EU may have average spurred many displaced Iraqis to try and reach

EU+ countries in order to apply for international protection.32 Frontex recorded 17 700 Iraqi

30 Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq – Human Rights Office, Report on the Protection of Civilians in the Armed Conflict in Iraq : 1 May – 31 October 2015, accessed 20 January 2016. 31 Displacement in Iraq exceeds 3.2 million, IOM.int 16 October 2015, accessed 18 January 2015. 32 Why is Finland a top destination for asylum-seekers?, CS Monitor 30 September 2015, accessed 18 January 2015.

990 Italy

795 Germany

515 United Kingdom

325 Belgium

320 Switzerland

320 Sweden

265 France

200 Norway

140 Netherlands

130 Hungary

115 Greece

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



0 200 400 600 8001 000

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/IQ/UNAMIReport1May31October2015.pdf

https://www.iom.int/news/displacement-iraq-exceeds-32-million-iom

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2015/0930/Why-is-Finland-a-top-destination-for-Iraqi-asylum-seekers


nationals crossing into the EU in Greece via the Eastern Mediterranean route in Q3 2015 but

suggested this may be an under estimation because Iraqis may falsely claim to be Syrian.33

Map 3: Distribution of Iraqi asylum applicants in the EU+, Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

Remarkably, in the third quarter 2015 it was Finland who received most of the asylum

applications by Iraqi nationals: 11 610 or 25 % of all Iraqi applicants in the EU+. Other

destination countries where large numbers of Iraqi nationals lodged their applications

included Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Austria and Sweden. Together all these countries

accounted for 86 % of Iraqi applications in EU+ countries. As the shading on Map 3 illustrates,

Iraqi applicants claimed asylum in Q3 2015 along the route from south-eastern to northern

Europe.

As a consequence of the large influx in Finland, the Finnish Immigration Service temporarily

suspended decision-making on Iraqi asylum claims in September in order to further assess the

33 Frontex, FRAN Quarterly: Quarter 3 – July-September 2015, Warsaw, January 2015



security situation in Iraq. The new assessment of the security situation in Iraq determined that

applications were to be examined and decided upon on their own merits rather than solely

on the region of origin.34

Figure 19: Distribution of Iraqi asylum applicants in EU+, Q2 2015 and Q3 2015 Source: Eurostat data as of 18 January 2016

The number of decisions issued to Iraqi applicants rose but the increase was not in parallel

with the rate of the asylum applications. In Q3 2015, 5 895 first-instance decisions were taken

applications by Iraqi applicants, a 9 % increase compared to Q2 and the highest number of

decisions since 2010.

The recognition rate in the EU+ for Iraqi applicants was 87 % in Q3 2015, similar to Q2.

Compared to one year ago the share of positive decisions issued to Iraqi applicants has clearly

risen: in Q3 2014, the recognition rate was 77 %.

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

EU+ countries that issued more than 100 decisions in the quarter, which ranged between 17 %

and 99 %. The type of protection granted to Iraqis by different EU+ countries also diverged

substantially. In Germany and France, positive first-instance decisions granted mostly refugee

status, whereas in Italy they granted mostly subsidiary protection, and Switzerland

humanitarian protection. Germany, France and Italy had recognition rates higher than the EU+

average. In Finland the recognition rate fell from 88 % in Q2 2015 to 81 % in Q3 2015.

34 Finnish Immigration Service freezes decision-making on Iraqi and Somali asylum claims, migri.fi 30 September 2015 accessed on 18 January 2016.

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http://www.migri.fi/for_the_media/bulletins/press_releases


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

that issued more than 100 decisions in Q3 2015 are displayed


At the end of September 2015, there were 57 830 cases of Iraqi applicants pending at first

instance in the EU+, more than double the stock at the end of the previous quarter. This clearly

reflects the increased influx of asylum applicants combined with only a slight increase in

decisions. The largest number of Iraqi applicants’ cases awaiting a decision were registered in

Germany (28 %) and Finland (21 %), followed by Belgium (12 %), Sweden and Hungary (each

11 %). The most significant relative increase in the pending stock took place in Finland where

it grew from a mere 765 pending cases in Q2 2015 to 12 245 pending cases in Q3 2015.

3 440 Germany

825 France

320 United Kingdom

320 Belgium

205 Sweden

135 Italy

130 Finland

100 Switzerland

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



01 0002 0003 0004 000


Annex I – Statistical overview

Overview of asylum applicants, withdrawn applications and pending cases registered in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q2 2014 – Q3 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 136 460 191 485 210 720 214 085 242 845 459 975 + 140 + 89

Syria 23 755 42 720 42 555 33 055 47 620 148 460 + 248 + 212 32Afghanistan 7 400 11 035 15 240 14 335 28 995 61 905 + 461 + 114 13Iraq 3 705 7 765 7 275 9 045 15 560 47 485 + 512 + 205 10Albania 4 100 3 820 4 880 8 645 18 385 27 485 + 620 + 49 6.0Pakistan 4 980 5 995 6 165 5 715 9 245 21 905 + 265 + 137 4.8Eritrea 14 310 19 540 8 855 4 300 13 830 18 755 -4. + 36 4.1Nigeria 5 055 6 195 6 270 4 855 6 755 11 950 + 93 + 77 2.6Bangladesh 1 975 3 335 4 525 2 750 3 105 7 935 + 138 + 156 1.7Serbia 4 910 8 545 11 490 10 215 7 570 7 925 - 7 +4. 7 1.7Somalia 4 620 5 030 4 300 4 335 6 445 6 895 + 37 + 7 1.5Other 48 075 49 125 57 885 59 260 55 485 99 275 + 102 + 79 22

Withdrawn applications 12 840 14 280 31 725 28 685 32 880 38 290 + 168 + 16Afghanistan 1 520 1 910 2 955 4 195 7 100 9 730 + 409 + 37 25Syria 1 045 1 495 2 960 1 620 4 560 7 415 + 396 + 63 19Iraq 375 355 1 645 660 2 505 3 035 + 755 + 21 7.9Pakistan 720 700 4 780 1 060 1 730 2 865 + 309 + 66 7.5Russia 1 230 1 360 1 340 1 080 1 340 2 585 + 90 + 93 6.8Albania 370 330 620 505 890 1 820 + 452 + 104 4.8Kosovo 355 1 340 5 005 11 675 5 125 750 - 44 - 85 2.0Serbia 600 665 705 935 1 010 720 + 8 - 29 1.9Bangladesh 245 165 1 555 380 610 715 +333. 3 + 17 1.9Nigeria 395 390 825 350 535 690 + 77 + 29 1.8Other 4 600 4 635 5 000 4 080 3 870 7 965 + 72 + 106 21

Pending cases 387 890 458 905 513 005 549 005 613 215 842 875 + 84 + 37

Syria 33 835 50 685 61 265 62 060 72 030 164 720 + 225 + 129 20

Afghanistan 28 405 29 985 33 910 35 480 48 855 85 730 + 186 + 75 10

Iraq 12 465 16 585 17 720 20 030 24 985 57 830 + 249 + 131 6.9

Eritrea 19 230 33 755 35 820 33 010 39 160 48 635 + 44 + 24 5.8

Albania 11 470 12 125 13 605 18 940 31 895 44 970 + 271 + 41 5.3

Pakistan 31 140 32 735 31 175 30 980 33 600 44 285 + 35 + 32 5.3

Kosovo 7 905 9 425 23 315 38 990 31 600 29 025 + 208 -8. 1 3.4

Nigeria 14 720 17 710 20 170 20 925 22 885 27 475 + 55 + 20 3.3

Serbia 14 950 19 055 23 010 25 585 26 255 27 345 + 44 +4. 2 3.2

Somalia 13 360 14 885 15 775 16 935 19 775 23 035 + 55 + 16 2.7

Other 136 340 144 895 160 940 174 880 182 390 289 825 + 100 + 59 34

2014 2015

Q3Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2

2015Q3

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in EU+Sparkline% change1 on


Overview of first-instance decisions issued in the EU+ by main citizenship, Q2 2014 – Q3 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) MK*: the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

last year prev. qtr

Total Decisions 87 130 92 460 118 070 129 410 124 820 142 070 + 54 + 14

Refugee Status 20 040 23 630 35 850 43 770 40 690 48 045 + 103 + 18 34

Syria 6 700 8 445 16 020 21 135 19 405 25 420 + 201 + 31 53

Eritrea 2 465 3 330 4 890 5 265 5 330 5 395 + 62 1.2 11

Iraq 775 1 010 2 395 4 415 4 200 4 600 + 355 + 10 10

Stateless 765 880 1 280 1 940 1 425 1 715 + 95 + 20 3.6

Unknown 585 565 965 1 310 1 175 1 500 + 165 + 28 3.1

Sudan 290 455 645 740 945 1 170 157 + 24 2.4

Iran 1 180 1 305 1 255 1 405 1 240 1 125 - 14 - 9.3 2.3

Afghanistan 1 365 1 555 1 375 1 225 1 045 1 085 - 30 + 3.8 2.3

Somalia 735 610 665 545 615 650 + 6.6 + 5.7 1.4

Sri Lanka 475 830 930 675 595 635 - 23 + 6.7 1.3

Other 4 705 4 645 5 430 5 115 4 715 4 750 + 2.3 + 0.7 10

Subsidiary protection 12 700 16 180 13 980 11 745 12 045 14 765 - 8.7 + 23 10

Syria 6 610 8 480 6 920 5 725 5 755 7 555 - 11 + 31 51

Eritrea 610 2 200 1 740 900 1 330 1 990 -10 + 50 13

Afghanistan 1 080 1 225 1 030 1 125 1 180 1 390 + 13 + 18 9.4

Somalia 885 735 695 565 520 550 - 25 + 5.8 3.7

Iraq 425 530 475 395 410 435 - 18 + 6.1 2.9

Ukraine 10 45 170 175 300 395 + 778 + 32 2.7

Pakistan 215 275 325 355 410 390 + 42 - 4.9 2.6

Nigeria 185 175 200 260 225 235 + 34 + 4.4 1.6

Mali 75 75 105 85 145 225 + 200 + 55 1.5

Libya 15 15 60 150 175 215 +1 333 + 23 1.5

Other 2 590 2 425 2 260 2 010 1 595 1 385 - 43 - 13 9

Humanitarian protection 5 350 5 815 5 695 5 660 6 080 6 890 + 18 + 13 4.8

Gambia 275 325 285 420 590 770 + 137 + 31 11Nigeria 290 480 430 455 580 710 + 48 + 22 10Syria 690 830 645 730 620 620 - 25 + 0.0 9.0Afghanistan 920 930 815 615 570 515 - 45 - 9.6 7.5Mali 430 470 420 390 560 465 - 1.1 -17 6.7Senegal 195 255 195 215 245 455 + 78 + 86 6.6Pakistan 295 290 355 265 345 405 + 40 + 17 5.9Bangladesh 80 55 85 130 160 350 + 536 + 119 5.1Ukraine 25 60 80 110 185 250 + 317 + 35 3.6Eritrea 105 135 125 160 225 195 + 44 - 13 2.8Other 2 045 1 985 2 260 2 170 2 000 2 155 + 9 7.7 31

Rejected 48 710 46 400 62 075 67 825 65 545 71 880 +55 + 10 51

Albania 3750 3140 2690 2640 5460 17295 + 451 + 217 24Kosovo 2555 2790 4545 12770 13430 5055 + 81 - 62 7.0Nigeria 1815 2035 2225 2410 2585 3915 + 92 + 51 5.4Serbia 3620 3430 9800 8370 4980 3740 + 9.0 - 25 5.2Pakistan 3040 2620 2965 3455 2885 3240 + 24 + 12.3 4.5Russia 2250 2305 2455 2225 2550 2380 + 3.3 - 6.7 3.3Bangladesh 1615 1400 1835 1955 1965 2310 + 65 + 17.6 3.2Mali 860 1105 1540 1435 1565 2005 + 81 28 2.8MK* 1385 1330 3615 2415 1845 1950 + 47 5.7 2.7Gambia 730 835 870 1015 1230 1900 + 128 + 54.5 2.6Other 27 090 25 410 29 535 29 135 27 050 28 090 + 11 3.8 39

2015Q3

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in EU+Sparkline

2014 2015

Q3Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2


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

EASO Quarterly Asylum Report Quarter 3, 2015 · EASO QUARTERLY REPORT — Q3 2015 5 Section 1:...

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