Double, number of asylum applications by Albanians in January-May 2022 leads France

According to Eurostat data, in May of this year there were a total of 920 asylum applications (for the first time and re-application), without including the United Kingdom, whose data is no longer reported since November 2020. This is the highest level of applications since January.

A total of 3,850 applications and re-applications were marked for the January-May period, with an increase of 10.8% compared to the first five months of last year, when movements were still limited due to pandemic.

Following the removal of travel restrictions, a strong increase of applications and radiation was seen in the second half of last year, which culminated in November, exceeding pre-pandem levels.

France follows to remain the preferred state for Albanian asylumers, due to the social facilities it offers. Nearly two thousand people, or 50% of the total, turned to France for the first time, or resumed in the first five months of this year. The second is Germany, with 22% of total applications, Italy 9.2%, Greece 10.2% and Belgium 4%.

EU application falls

In April 2022, 54 145 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU member states, 66% more compared to April 2021 (32 570) and 28% less compared to March 2022 (74 950), according to Eurostat.

The fall from March to April 2022 could be attributed mainly to the decline of Ukrainian applicants for the first time (from 12 885 in March to 1010 in April; -88%), whose number had increased in March due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.

In April 2022, there were also 555 applicants for the second time (persons who resumed asylum after a decision had been made on a previous request). This was an increasing 2% compared to April 2021 and a 16% drop compared to March 2022. /Monitor. al