BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The European Union granted 
protection to 437,900 asylum seekers in 2024, up seven percent on the 
previous year, the bloc's statistics agency said Friday.

Three countries -- Germany, France and Spain -- accounted for almost two-
thirds of the beneficiaries, Eurostat said.

As has been the case for several years, Syrians, Afghans and Venezuelans are 
the main beneficiaries of protection granted in the 27 member states.

However, many European countries, including Germany, have decided to suspend 
the examination of asylum applications from Syrians since the fall of Bashar 
al-Assad in December 2024.

The European Union is under pressure to tighten the screws on immigration. In 
recent weeks, Brussels has unveiled proposals to speed up the expulsion of 
illegal immigrants and limit asylum options available to nationals of certain 
countries.