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| Chart of asylum applications for Albanians, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
Asylum applications from Albanian citizens in European Union countries have accelerated growth during the summer months.
According to Eurostat's preliminary data for the period January-August 2022, a total of 6,860 asylum applications were registered in the EU by Albanian citizens, with an increase of 68% compared to the same period last year, Monitor reports.
However, compared to 2019, applications remain 41% lower.
The countries with the highest applications remain France, with 46% of the total applications for the 8-month period, and Germany, with 12%. The desire of Albanians is the highest in Europe even compared to Ukraine, which is at war.
Eurostat data show that in August asylum applications from Albanians were almost 1100, while Ukraine's in July (the last available data) was 950. Moreover, Ukraine has a population of 43 million, while Albania officially has about 2.8 million inhabitants.
Total applications in the EU
According to Eurostat, in July 2022, 66,545 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU nationals) applied for international protection in EU Member States, 265 more than in June 2022, which, in relative terms, it means a rather small increase of 0.4%.
Compared to July 2021 (44,760), there was a 49% increase in the total number of requests.
In July 2022, there were also 5,860 subsequent applicants (people who reapplied for asylum after a decision had been made on a previous claim), a decrease of 7% compared to June 2022 and a 2% increase compared to July 2021.
In July 2022, Syrians were the largest group of people seeking asylum (9,010 first-time applicants). They were followed by Afghans (8,150), followed by Venezuelans (3,665), Pakistanis (3,555), and Colombians (3,505).
In March 2022, there was a large increase in Ukrainian asylum seekers for the first time (from 2,370 in February to 12,890 in March) due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The numbers have been decreasing every month: 1,510 in April, 1,295 in May, 975 in June, and 950 in July.
This also happens because people fleeing Ukraine benefit from temporary protection.