The EASO annual report 2016 was presented, including inter alia the following key findings:

• In 2016 almost 1,3 million applications for international protection were made in the EU+ (- 7% compared to 2015).
• In 2016 1,15 million 1st instance decisions were issued (+ 84% compared to 2015). Decisions in 2nd instance also rose by 21%.
• The overall recognition rate stood at 61% for 1st instance decisions.
• The highest number of applicants were citizens from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Nigeria.
• The main receiving countries were Germany, Italy, France, Greece and Austria.
• More than 65.000 unaccompanied minors applied for international protection, that is 37% less than in 2015.
• In 2016, policies in several areas were amended including content of protection, reception, registration of applications, special procedures, vulnerable groups and return.

The presentation was followed by questions from the audience, inter alia on the increasing migratory flow on the Central Mediterranean route and solidarity towards Italy, the possibility to open a humanitarian corridor to avoid deaths at sea, the EU-Turkey statement and possible approach towards Libya.

The EASO also presented its operational activities in the hotspots, together with officials from the Italian and Greek authorities. As of 3 July 2017, 23.503 persons were relocated, including 7.390 from Italy (mainly from Syria and Eritrea) and 16.113 from Greece (mainly from Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Eritrea).

The presentations were again followed by questions from the audience, including on the efficiency of the relocation mechanism, on the relevance of the 75% threshold to benefit from the relocation scheme, on the termination of the current scheme end September 2017 and future steps.

For more information, please see:

• the annual report 2016 below
• The factsheet summarising key findings from the report
• the press release below
• the EASO website