Asylum immigration to Europe fell slightly in the first half of 2024.
In the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland, 499,470 asylum applications were submitted, a decrease of two percent compared to the same period last year.
Despite an overall decline, Germany remains the primary destination for asylum seekers, with 115,682 applications according to Welt. This figure represents a 20 percent decrease from the previous year.
The majority of applicants in Germany came from Syria (29 percent), Afghanistan (18 percent), and Turkey (10 percent).
Other European countries recorded different trends: Spain and Italy experienced slight increases in asylum applications, while France and Austria reported declines.
Notably, Greece experienced a dramatic 77 percent increase in asylum applications.
Emerging Migration Challenges
At the same time, the EU Commission warned of two simmering migration crises.
On the one hand, there has been a significant rise in illegal migrants at the EU's external border with Belarus, particularly at the Polish border. This increase is largely due to migrants entering Russia and then illegally crossing into Belarus before reaching the EU.
On the other hand, Ireland has seen a notable increase in asylum applications, partly due to the UK's restrictive asylum policies. This surge has strained Ireland's capacity to provide adequate housing and support for the influx of migrants.
