WORLD 580 800 first-time asylum seekers registered in 2018, down by 11% compared with 2017 The FINANCIAL -- In 2018, 580 800 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the Member States of the European Union (EU), down by 11% compared with 2017 (654 600) and less than half of the number recorded in the peak More by The FINANCIAL March 18, 2019 4 mins read