After the strong growth in September, Albanian asylum applications declined in October and November, but still remain at the highest levels after the pandemic.

According to data published by the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA), in November there were a total of 1121 applications from Albanian citizens in one of the European Union countries. The figure is almost halved compared to September, when there were over 2 thousand applications (reaching pre-pandemic levels), and 27% lower than October, but remains twice as high as the monthly average of January-June 2021 , when there were no more than 450-600 applications per month.

For the 11-month period 2021, asylum applications reached over 10 thousand, an increase of 66% compared to the same period a year ago, when movements were blocked due to the situation created by the pandemic. While compared to the period January-November 2019, applications have been halved.

Despite the downward trend in October and November, Albania continues to hold the record in the region for the high number of applications. According to the EUAA, in November, there were 1001 applications from Northern Macedonia, Serbia 405, Bosnia and Herzegovina 349, Montenegro 77, Kosovo over 200.

According to the EUAA, asylum applications in the EU are approaching the highest level since 2016. About 71,400 applications for international protection were filed in the EU + in November 2021, 9% more than in October. This figure was almost at the peak reached in September 2021, when EU + countries received more applications since the so-called ‘immigration crisis’ of 2016.

While the peak of September included many applications related to evacuations from Kabul following the withdrawal of Allied Forces and the subsequent occupation of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the almost equally high level in November not only reflected an increase in Afghans but also for some nationalities. other major.

Afghans had 13,000 applications in November, significantly more than in October but less than in September. They remained the largest group of applicants, followed by Syrians (11,500) who filed the most applications since 2016. About 4,300 Iraqis applied in November (+ 30% from October), representing the third largest group of applicants. Significant increases also occurred for Venezuelans (3,300), Pakistanis (2,800) and Colombians (2,500)

In recent months, an unusual number of asylum seekers in the EU + have claimed to be unaccompanied minors. They filed about 3,300 applications in October (the highest level since 2015) and 3,200 in November. Afghans made up about half of all unaccompanied minors, followed at a distance by Syrians, Somalis, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. Unaccompanied minors represented 5% of all EU + applicants in November.

(Source: Monitor)