Annual Overviews

AIDA Briefing - Asylum in Europe in 2025, July 2026: This briefing provides key examples of the general trends that can be observed across asylum systems in Europe in 2025 as documented in AIDA. It demonstrates that, while asylum systems are in place and functioning across Europe, the rights of people in need of international protection are still regularly violated and significant gaps in national asylum systems continue to be reported. Access to asylum remains a particular concern, as do the quality and length of asylum procedures. Reception systems came under pressure in an increasing number of countries, often due to a lack of sufficiently robust contingency planning, and detention of asylum applicants remained commonplace, rather than being a limited exception.
AIDA Briefing - Temporary Protection in Europe in 2025, July 2026: This briefing provides key examples of the general trends that can be observed regarding the treatment of persons fleeing from Ukraine in Europe in 2025 as documented in AIDA. The EU’s immediate response to displacement from Ukraine was positive, with the rapid activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) which greatly facilitated access to rights, and the granting of broader rights and/or eligibility in several Member States. However, in the years since, including in 2025, countries have increasingly diverged in their national approaches to temporary protection and introduced new restrictions on both the scope of temporary protection regimes and the rights of beneficiaries. This is notably reflected in the increasing number of cases before the CJEU. The situation is compounded by the continued uncertainty stemming from the absence of a concerted EU-level solution for transitioning out, which has also led to divergent approaches by national authorities.
AIDA Briefing - Asylum in Europe in 2024, September 2025: This briefing provides key examples of the general trends that can be observed across asylum systems in Europe in 2024 as documented in AIDA. As in previous years, it demonstrates that, while asylum systems are in place and functioning across Europe, the rights of people in need of international protection are still regularly violated and significant gaps in national asylum systems continue to be reported. The briefing focuses on the following elements: applications and protection rates, access to asylum procedures, safe pathways to Europe, the use of special procedures, procedural safeguards, the suspension of the examination of asylum applications, the treatment of vulnerable applicants, reception conditions, the use of detention, access to rights for beneficiaries of international protection, and the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
AIDA Briefing - Asylum in Europe in 2023, September 2024: This briefing provides key examples of the general trends that can be observed across asylum systems in Europe in 2023 as documented in AIDA. It demonstrates that, while asylum systems are in place and functioning across Europe, the rights of people in need of international protection are still regularly violated and significant gaps in national asylum systems continue to be reported. The briefing focuses on the following elements: arrivals and protection rates, procedural safeguards, reception crises, widespread use of detention, treatment of vulnerable applicants, use of special procedures, denial of access to the territory and to asylum, access to rights for beneficiaries of international protection, limited safe routes to Europe.
Asylum in Europe in 2022, July 2023: This briefing provides an overview of key trends in asylum in Europe in 2022 as documented in AIDA. As in previous years, it demonstrates that, while asylum systems are in place and functioning across Europe, the rights of people in need of international protection are still regularly violated and significant gaps in national asylum systems continue to be reported. This is despite the positive response of states to the displacement from Ukraine, which created additional challenges but also demonstrated that management of large-scale displacement is possible. The briefing focuses on the following elements: number of asylum applications, denied access to the territory and to asylum, limited safe routes to Europe, high recognition rates and protection needs, inadequate procedural safeguards, shortcomings in the protection of unaccompanied children, lack of adequate reception, widespread use of detention, access to rights for beneficiaries of international protection.
Asylum in Europe in 2021, July 2022: This briefing provides an overview of key trends in asylum in Europe in 2021 as documented in AIDA. As in previous years, it demonstrates that, while asylum systems are in place and functioning across Europe, the rights of people in need of international protection are still regularly violated and significant gaps in national asylum systems continue to be reported. The briefing focuses on the following elements: number of asylum applications, restricting access to asylum, limited alternatives for legal access to the territory, recognition rates, lengthy asylum procedures, lacking procedural safeguards, lack of adequate reception, widespread use of detention, access to rights for beneficiaries of international protection.
Asylum in Europe in 2020, July 2021: This briefing provides an overview of key trends in asylum in Europe in 2020 as documented in AIDA. It demonstrates that the rights of persons in need of international protection are routinely violated, and that national asylum systems continue to be marred by serious gaps in efficiency and quality. In many cases, changes in policies and targeting of resources could address these challenges. In addition, this year’s AIDA reports shed light on the treatment and reception of applicants for international protection during COVID-19, raising questions as regards compliance with European and international law. The briefing focuses on the following elements: number of asylum applications, unlawful border practices, deterrence policies, asylum procedures during COVID-19, inconsistent decision making at first and second instance, shrinking procedural guarantees, insufficient and inadequate reception, use of detention, access to rights for beneficiaries of international protection.

For case summaries and other legal resources, see the European Database of Asylum Law.