EU Agency for Asylum Highlights Continued Risks for Afghan Nationals

Brussels, August 3, 2024 — The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has published an updated Country Guidance on Afghanistan, reaffirming that Afghan women, girls, and other vulnerable groups remain at high risk of persecution. This guidance, endorsed unanimously by all 27 EU Member States, plays a crucial role in harmonizing the assessment of asylum applications across the EU.

According to the latest data from the EUAA, Afghanistan remains the second-largest source of asylum applicants in the EU. In 2023, nearly 118,000 Afghan nationals sought international protection in EU+ countries, a 12% decrease from the previous year. Germany received over one-third of these applications, making it the primary destination for Afghan asylum seekers. The overall recognition rate for Afghan applications stood at 55%, with half of the successful applicants granted refugee status.

The Country Guidance is informed by up-to-date country of origin information (COI) and reflects recent jurisprudence from the Court of Justice of the European Union. It highlights the continued threats faced by Afghan women and girls under the Taliban de facto government, who are systematically denied their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Other groups at risk include former Afghan government officials, individuals affiliated with foreign forces, members of anti-Taliban resistance groups, human rights defenders, and those perceived to have violated religious, moral, or societal norms. Religious and ethnic minorities also face significant threats from both the Taliban and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).

The 2024 guidance underscores the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, noting severe movement restrictions and security concerns. Consequently, it concludes that there is currently no viable internal protection alternative within any part of Afghanistan.

The EUAA, an agency of the European Union, supports Member States in implementing the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). It provides practical, legal, technical, advisory, and operational assistance to harmonize asylum practices across the EU. The agency aims to ensure that asylum applications are assessed uniformly across all EU+ Member States, offering consistent procedures, conditions, and protections for all applicants.