High figures of Kosovars seeking asylum in the EU during 2017

There have been 5,310 asylum seekers for the first time from Kosovo to the EU during 2017, according to new data published by the EU Statistics Agency Eurostat.

This number shows a decline in those who have applied for the first time in recent years, 9,200 Kosovars have sought asylum in 2016 -- a huge contrast to 2015, when almost 70 thousand Kosovars have sought asylum in Western European countries, often after crossing to EU countries illegally via Hungary.

The number of EU asylum seekers decreased almost half in 2017 compared to 2015 and 2016, when about 1.2 million people sought asylum during the peak crisis in Syria. Germany remains the main destination, 31 percent of total applicants have gone there.

Following this global trend, the number of Kosovo applicants has also declined over the past year, but the number of young and minor applicants remains disturbing. In 2017, 2,140 asylum seekers from Kosovo were between the ages of 18 and 34, while a large number of them, 2,055, were under the age of 18.

The main destination for Kosovars is France, 2,665 people have applied for asylum, out of which nearly a third are minors. Germany ranks as the second favorite destination, with the number of applicants seeking asylum for the first time being 1,300.

Kosovo, known as a safe country of origin by the majority of EU member states, is the only Western Balkan country without visa regime for Schengen xon. In the past, experts have argued that one of the main reasons for Kosovo's continued visa liberalisation delay is fear that Kosovo poses a high risk of immigration. However, according to Kosovo's visa liberalisation guide, the only remaining criteria, following ratification of the demarcation agreement with Montenegro, is the improved record in the fight against corruption.

Albania, which has also experienced a decline in asylum applicants in recent years, remains at the top of seven list of countries of origin. Over 22 thousand Albanians applied for the first time in Western Europe in 2017, a slight decline of 29,000 in 2016 in sharp contrast to 66 thousand in 2015.

Meanwhile, Serbia stands behind Kosovo, with 5,055 asylum seekers in 2017 -- a slight drop in the 2016 number -- when almost 9 thousand Serbs sought asylum in the EU.

Macedonia, which is a candidate country for EU membership, closely follows back, with over 4 thousand applicants.

Other Balkan countries seem less interested in applying for asylum in Europe, with Bosnia and Herzegovina having only 1,765 asylum applicants and Montenegro with a little over 500. /Kallex