European asylum statistics for September 1999

In September 1999, the number of asylum applications lodged in the 19 European countries for which figures are available fell by 3%, when compared with August. In September, some 28,930 asylum applications were submitted, compared to 29,720 in August. While the monthly number of asylum applications submitted in Europe has fallen since July 1999, the September figure is still above the level of the first five months of 1999.

In August 1999, for the first time, the United Kingdom received more asylum-seekers (9,100) than Germany (8,910). During the same month, Belgium received 4,350 asylum applications, an increase of 57 per cent compared to July, making Belgium the third largest destination country of asylum-seekers in Europe during August.

Applications from citizens of FR Yugoslavia, including Kosovars, continue to show a strong decline. In September 1999, 6,210 Yugoslav citizens applied for asylum in Europe, 18 per cent less than in August (7,580). In September, one out of every five asylum-seekers came from FR Yugoslavia, compared to one out of every two in June.