4.14.1.3. Differences in recognition rates for specific nationalities across receiving countries

icon for differences in recognition rates across different nationalities

As in the past, large differences in national practices were seen in granting protection to the Top 10 citizenships of applicants. With bubble sizes indicating the number of decisions, Figure 4.24 shows the recognition rates for selected countries of origin. For example, the recognition rate for Syrians was at least 62% in most countries that issued many decisions (more than 200), but it was only 36% in Denmark.

Conversely, the recognition rate for nationals of Venezuela was below 33%, except in Italy (85%). Similarly, the rate for Colombians did not exceed 13%, except in Italy (35%). In fact, recognition rates in Italy were at the upper-end of the range for many citizenships, including Afghans, Iraqis and Somalis.

Overall, discrepancies in recognition rates were most apparent for applicants from Afghanistan, ranging from 11% in Bulgaria to 99% in Poland and Spain. Wide ranges also occurred for Iraqi applicants (from 0% in Poland to 83% in Italy) and Turks (from 16% in France to 96% in Switzerland). However, extremely high or low percentages can sometimes be a result of very few decisions being issued.

Recognition rates for certain citizenships differed significantly across EU+ countries

Figure 4.24 Recognition rates for certain citizenships receiving the most decisions at first instance, by receiving country, 2021 — **Note**: Each bubble represents a different EU+ country issuing more than 200 first instance decisions in 2021 for the selected nationality. The bubble size indicates the number of first instance decisions and the placement on the vertical axis denotes the recognition rate. The 10 nationalities presented received the most first instance decisions in 2021.

*Source*: Eurostat [migr_asyappctzm] as of 22 April 2022.

There are several reasons why the same citizenship may have different recognition rates across EU+ countries. For example, applicants with the same citizenship can have significantly different profiles and protection needs, or come from different regions of the same country. This has been the case for applicants from Afghanistan, where the security situation varied considerably from one region to another until the takeover by the Taliban.

Recognition rates may also differ between first-time and repeated applications lodged by the same nationality. Similarly, some applicants may have already received an EU protection status in another Member State but they submit a new application (see Section 4.3.4). EU+ countries may also differ slightly in terms of their national policies and guidelines on asylum, in addition to the interpretation of certain legal concepts. In particular, receiving countries can have different lists of safe countries of origin and safe third countries or assess internal protection alternatives and the level of indiscriminate violence differently, which can impact eligibility for subsidiary protection.