EU migration skyrockets as aslyum seeker numbers set to surpass one million this year
EU migration has skyrocketed in recent months
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EU migration has skyrocketed in recent months, with asylum applications to the bloc set to surpass one million by the end of this year.
The European Asylum Agency will publish its report today outlining figures from accross the union from the first half of this year.
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EU members recieved around 519,000 applications for asylum in the six months period January and the end of June this year.
This is an increase of 28 percent, compared with the same period last year.
The UK has also seen growth in the number of asylum applications, but at a slower rate than the EU
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The figures represent the highest number since 2015 and 2016 when the bloc saw a major influx, primarily from Syrians fleeing war.
If the growth continues, this will leave the EU with applications exceeding one million by the end of this year, taking it into the millions by next year.
The highest number of applications was recieved by Germany, which accounted for 30 percent.
Spain has 17 percent of applications, while France had the third highest figure are 16 percent.
Syrians and Afghans account for nearly a quarter of asylum applications received by the EU this year.
Germany received by far the highest number of applications (30 percent), followed by Spain (17 percent), ahead of France, which lodged 16 percent of the EU+’s asylum applications.
The UK has also seen growth in the number of asylum applications, but at a slower rate than the EU.
In the twelve month period ending in June 2023, the UK recieved 78,768 asylum applications (relating to 97,390 people).
This is a 19 percent increase on the number of applications in the year ending June 2022, which saw 66,384 applications, relating to 79,922 people.
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Between 2016 and the year ending June 2022, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK.
But due to a rise in Albanian asylum claims in mid-2022, Albania was the most common nationality applying for asylum in the year ending June 2023.
Rishi Sunak has made "stopping the boats" from illegally crossing the channel a core pillar of his premiership.