Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn met with MPs on Monday morning to brief them on immigration statistics in 2018. Afterwards, he presented his report to the press.
Date: Wednesday, 06 February 2019
© Didier Weber
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn met with MPs on Monday morning to brief them on immigration statistics in 2018. Afterwards, he presented his report to the press.
Broadly, Asselborn explained, the phenomenon of migrants arriving via the Mediterranean is one that is falling in numbers in the entire European Union, including Luxembourg. As a contrast, secondary migration, which consists of asylum seekers arriving in Italy and coming to Luxembourg, has risen over the last few months.
In total, there were 2,200 asylum requests in 2018. The number fell by 120 compared to the previous year. However, Asselborn explained, if you include the number of migrants relocated from Malta as well as spontaneous requests, there has been a net rise of 220 compared to 2017.
As the minister explained, the majority of asylum requests come from residents of Eritrea, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. As a further breakdown of the asylum requests, Asselborn explained that requests came from nationals from 65 different countries. Of all of these asylum seekers, approximately a third were minors, a third women, and a third were men.
In 2018, 36 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in Luxembourg. As for the first month of 2019, there were 226 asylum requests. Asselborn explained that if this trend continues at the pace seen in January, then by the end of 2019, there will likely be more asylum requests than ever. 81 of those asylum seekers originate from Eritrea, of which 80% are so-called Dubliners.
An asylum request remains different to being granted the status of refugee. In 2018, 980 individuals received refugee status, which is 200 fewer than 2017. 360 asylum seekers had their applications denied.
© Didier Weber
Of those received by OLAI, the Luxembourg Reception and Integration Agency, 50% were granted refugee status, 10% were rejected, and 40% are still being reviewed. Asselborn explained that the next step is to move the 50% from the government's structures.
No genital examinations
In 2018, 36 non-accompanied minors arrived in Luxembourg to request asylum, down from 50 in 2017. In previous years, there have been discussions on how to determine if someone is under 18 years old or not. The government has made it clear that genital examinations are not necessary to determine age. Instead, an X-ray of the individual's left hand, shoulder blades, and teeth should suffice.
