In a shocking development, a staggering total of 801,459 asylum applications have been filed in the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland from the beginning of the year up to October 3, 2023. This figure, reported by the German newspaper Welt in its Tuesday edition, marks the highest number of asylum applications seen in this timeframe since 2016, according to data obtained from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA).
The most substantial increases in asylum applications were observed in Latvia, where the numbers surged by an astonishing 168 percent, and Estonia, which witnessed an impressive 119 percent rise. The root cause of this dramatic spike has been attributed to the notable increase in irregular migration from Belarus.
Germany, the largest contributor to this year’s asylum applications, came in third with a remarkable 74 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
On the flip side, several countries experienced significant decreases in asylum applications during this period. Denmark reported a notable decline of 56 percent, followed by Malta with a 54 percent decrease, Cyprus down by 52 percent, and Austria down by 41 percent.
Hungary emerged as the country with the lowest number of asylum applications so far in 2023, registering only 26 applications, highlighting a stark contrast with the overall trend in the region.
This surge in asylum applications underscores the challenges posed by irregular migration and the pressing need for collaborative efforts to address the complex issues surrounding asylum seekers in the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland.
