{"id":8269,"date":"2020-09-03T19:34:53","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T16:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/?p=8269"},"modified":"2020-09-18T15:09:06","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T12:09:06","slug":"majority-of-asylum-seekers-in-need-of-international-protection-according-to-eurostat-first-instance-asylum-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rsaegean.org\/en\/majority-of-asylum-seekers-in-need-of-international-protection-according-to-eurostat-first-instance-asylum-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Majority of asylum seekers in need of international protection, according to Eurostat first instance asylum statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]More than two thirds of the 29,490 decisions issued by the Asylum Service on asylum applications in the first half of 2020 were positive, according to the latest statistics<\/a> published by the European Commission\u2019s statistical office, Eurostat. The Office is responsible for the keeping and publication of official consolidated asylum statistics across the European Union (EU).<\/p>\n

Asylum seekers in the first half of 2020<\/p>\n

Due to the suspension of the asylum procedure<\/a> by way of emergency decree and the subsequent suspension of Asylum Service operations as part of Greece\u2019s COVID-19 response, registrations of asylum claims went from 2,410 in March, to zero in April, 670 in May and 3,610 in June.<\/p>\n

The main countries of origin of asylum seekers registered during the first six months of the year are as follows:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Asylum applicants: 1 January \u2013 30 June 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCdGFibGUlMjBpZCUzRDE2JTIwJTJGJTVE[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By way of comparison to the data on asylum seekers, during the same period (first half of 2020), the Reception Identification Service (RIS) registered<\/a> a total of 7.762 new arrivals in reception and identification procedures.<\/p>\n

According to Eurostat figures, the number<\/a> of persons with pending asylum cases at all instances was 84,330 at the end of June 2020.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

First instance asylum decisions: 1 January \u2013 30 June 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCdGFibGUlMjBpZCUzRDE3JTIwJTJGJTVE[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]RSA highlights that, contrary to the data previously published by the Asylum Service, Eurostat statistics count<\/a> inadmissibility decisions as negative decisions. This includes decisions dismissing applications on grounds such as the \u201csafe third country\u201d concept or subsequent claims without new elements.[1]<\/a><\/sup> As a result, the calculation of the rate of positive decisions based on Eurostat figures does not accurately represent the recognition rate of in-merit asylum authorities\u2019 decision-making.<\/p>\n

According to statistics released in a Ministry of Migration and Asylum information note<\/a>, the percentage of \u201cpositive decisions\u201d was at 44% in the first six months of 2020.[2]<\/a><\/sup> These numbers are contradicted by the official data provided by the Greek government to Eurostat, which point to a substantial rise of the first instance recognition rate to 69%.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the number of positive Asylum Service decisions<\/a> significantly increased between the first and second quarter of 2020, particularly in relation to refugee status grants:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

First instance asylum decisions: Comparison of Q1 and Q2 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTVCdGFibGUlMjBpZCUzRDE4JTIwJTJGJTVE[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A number of conclusions may be drawn from the above statistics:<\/p>\n

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  1. The majority of people seeking asylum are assessed by the authorities to be in need of international protection, with official data calling into question statements to the contrary<\/a>.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n
  2. Opposite trends in the first and the second instance procedure<\/a>, bearing in mind the drop of the recognition rate before the Appeals Committee to 2.9% in the second quarter of 2020.<\/li>\n
  3. Steady and significant increase in the population of beneficiaries of international protection in Greece, who face severe obstacles<\/a> to access to rights due to the absence of a holistic plan to enable their integration in the country.<\/li>\n
  4. Substantial discrepancies between the data presented by the Ministry information notes and reports to international organisations and EU statistics, which render the need to resume<\/a> publication of detailed Asylum Service statistics all the more pressing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For more information:<\/p>\n