Europe once welcomed me. Today, I fear it would not – and that’s a threat to all of us | Shada Islam
GuardianSep 21, 2023
EU+ Asylum Applications Highest Level Since 2016 Crisis
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The Facts
Data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) shows that EU+ countries received more than 1.14M applications for asylum in 2023, approximately 18% more than the year prior and the most seen since 2016.
Of the 27 EU member states plus Norway and Switzerland — which constitutes EU+ — Germany received the most asylum applications (334K), followed by France (167K), Spain (162K), and Italy (136K).
The Spin
Left narrative
As the presence of anti-migrant radicals continues to grow within the EU, the bloc — founded on the principles of unity and equality — is beginning to lose its historical inclusiveness. It's crucial to restore the EU's moral compass and tolerance of asylum seekers before it's too late. As Europe was once the center of progress and inclusivity, the world will be a worse place if this is forgotten.
Right narrative
Mass migration is a dangerous and mounting security threat facing all of Europe, as countries are juggling a never-ending tide of asylum seekers. The world is facing crises on multiple fronts — including security threats from Iran, Russia, and China, and climate issues — and that is all the more reason to prioritize the security of European borders and the citizens currently inhabiting them.