Introduction

• Pages: 13-14

EASO Asylum Report 2020

13

Introduction

Facing an 11 % increase in the number of applications for international protect ion lodged in

Europe in 2019, countries responded to changing migratory patterns by introducing new

measures or practices throughout the year to ensure effective implementation of the European

asylum acquis. Some countries, such as Cyprus, France, Greece, Malta and Spain, received more

asylum applicants in 2019 than during the migration crisis of 2015. Urgent measures were put in

place to address an influx of migrants, disembarkations and rising backlogs of pending cases,

while endeavouring to protect the rights of asylum seekers and share responsibility amongst

Member States.

As the go-to source of information on international protection in Europe, the EASO Asylum Report

series provides a comprehensive overview each year of key developments in asylum in European

Union Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (EU+ countries). All aspects of

the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) are covered step by step by summarising changes to

legislation, policy and practice at the European and national levels. The report presents selected case

law which has shaped the interpretation of European and national laws, as well as key indicators for

the 2019 reference year which highlight emerging trends and measure the e ffectiveness of asylum

systems.

Global, European and national trends and events shaped developments in asylum in 2 019. To set the

scene, Section 1 presents an overview of forced displacement globally. It addresses the international

              

the world stage: statelessness and displacement due to environmental factors. The sect ion also

presents the outcomes of the first Global Refugee Forum, which was organised in December 2019 to

build solidarity between refugees and host countries.

Section 2 narrows in on the context in the European U nion, presenting the evolution of CEAS and

major developments in legislation and policy at the EU level. The new European Commission kept

migration high among its priorities and the section provides updates on building a more structured

solution for disembarkations through the Central Mediterranean route. It details EU initiatives under

the European Agenda on Migration and jurisprudence by the Court of Justice of the E U (CJEU) in the

area of international protection.

As the centre of expertise on asylum, EASO provides technical and operational assistance to Member

States to manage the influx of applicants and share best practices. Section 3 outlines the role EASO

plays in building capacity and fostering the exchange of information. It describes the a 

partnerships and work with third countries to establish or reinforce their national asylum systems s.

P  EA“O        E  

international protection needs, are described.

The overall number of asylum applications increased in 2019 but different stories unfolded at the

country level. Some asylum and reception systems were heavily taxed, while other countries handled

far fewer cases than in 2018. Section 4 presents the latest published data on key indicators to identify

and monitor trends in countries receiving asylum applicants and countries of origin. It outlines the

main trends in applications received, countries of origin of applicants, withdrawn applications,

decisions on applications and pending c ases. A special sub -section looks deeper into socio-economic

indicators which can influence trends in asylum.