223 asylum applications in January

It appears that last year's wave of asylum seekers coming to Luxembourg shows no sign of slowing after applications reached almost their highest rate yet last month.

In January 2012, the state immigration department received 223 asylum applications, nearly twice the number for January 2011 (116) and almost five times the number for January 2010 (49).

The only months in which more applications were received were March (237) and September (312) 2011.

The figures were released by Luxembourg's foreign affairs ministry, which charted the evolution of asylum applications in Luxembourg since 2007.

According to the report, the majority of the applications received in January (193) were submitted by people registered to countries in Europe. Serbian asylum seekers represented the largest group accounting for 91 of the applicants, followed by Macedonians (32) and Kosovans (28).

Of those applications received, 130 were refused international protection and 68 were waived or withdrawn. Only nine applicants were granted refugee status. During the same month, 62 failed asylum seekers were repatriated to their country of origin.

Last year, Luxembourg was overwhelmed by asylum applications, receiving 2,164, compared with 786 in 2010 and 505 in 2009.

Unable to cope with the demand, the government temporarily closed its immigration offices. It faced heavy criticism from applicants who experienced long delays before receiving an answer. Dissatisfaction prompted one group of asylum seekers from Iraq to stage a hunger strike in Place Clairefontaine in the capital.

This year, the government came under fire again when it reduced the state allowance available to asylum seekers to 7.50 euros per day.