but around half of the number recorded in the peak year 2015 when 1 216 900 first-time asylum applicants were registered.

The FINANCIAL -- In 2019, 612 700 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU), up by 12% compared with 2018 (549 000), but around half of the number recorded in the peak year 2015 when 1 216 900 first-time asylum applicants were registered.