ASYLUM : PRONOUNCED INCREASE IN PROTECTION IN 2011.

The EU27 member states granted protection to 84,100 asylum seekers in 2011, compared with 75,800 in 2010. The largest groups of beneficiaries of protection status (see box) were nationals of Afghanistan (16% of total number of persons given protection status), Iraq (9,000 or 11%) and Somalia (8,900 or 11%), according to figures published by Eurostat, on 19 June, the eve of World Refugee Day.

In 2011, 365,600 decisions on asylum applications were made in the EU27 (at first instance and on appeal). A total of 84,100 people were given protection status, 42,700 were granted refugee status, 29,400 subsidiary protection and 12,000 authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons.

The share of positive decisions in the total number of decisions was 25% at first instance, split between refugee and subsidiary protection status (21%) and humanitarian status (4%). The recognition rate was 19% for decisions on appeal, also split between refugee and subsidiary protection status (17%) and humanitarian status (2%). It should be noted that, while both refugee and subsidiary protection status are defined by EU law, humanitarian status is granted on the basis of national legislation relating to international protection.

In 2011, the largest number of persons granted protection status was registered in the United Kingdom (14,400), followed by Germany (13,000), France (10,700)...