site.bta2% of EU Asylum Applications in October 2023 Filed in Bulgaria

In October 2023, 2% of EU asylum applications were filed in Bulgaria, according to data of the European Union Agency for Asylum. They are contained in a report comprised on December 14. Applications for asylum increased to 123 000, which is the highest monthly figure in seven years.

A total of 3,028 applications were submitted in Bulgaria. The largest number of applications were filed in Germany (33,513 or 27%), France (16,784 or 14%) and Italy (15,524, or 13%), followed by Spain (10%),Greece (9%), Austria (8%), the Netherlands (4%), Belgium and Switzerland each with 3%. The remaining 7% of asylum applications were filed in the rest of the EU.

The majority of applications were filed by nationals of Syria, Afghanistan, and Morocco. In 2023, Bulgaria issued 874 decisions in connection with the applications and granted 447. The Bulgarian authorities have to handle another 15,782 cases, figures show.

Germany has to handle 218, 856 applications, Spain 160,195, and Italy – 147, 401.