Moroccan Asylum Claims Surge as EU Sees Record Applications in 2022

In total, 966,000 asylum applications were registered in 2022 in the EU+ countries, an increase of more than 50% compared to 2021, according to data published on February 22 by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). A record since 2016. To this number are added 4 million Ukrainians who have fled the war and benefit from a special temporary protection status in the European Union.

In detail, Syrians (132,000) and Afghans (129,000) are by far the main applicants for protection. They are followed by Turks (55,000), Venezuelans (51,000), Colombians (43,000), Pakistanis (37,000), Bangladeshis (34,000) and Georgians (29,000). Then come citizens of India (26,000), Morocco (22,000), Tunisia (21,000), Egypt (15,000), Moldova (8,300) and several others.

The increase in the number of asylum applications in the EU+ is explained by several factors, including the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, conflicts and food insecurity in many regions