Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/956412
maltatoday WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2018 News 2 MATTHEW VELLA MALTA registered a total of 1,610 asylum claims in 2017, which was less than in 2016 (1735) and far low- er than the record high of 2008 (2,605). Asylum claims are lodged by non-EU nationals seek- ing protection from perse- cution and inhuman treat- ment in their home country. In 2017, 650,000 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in any EU member state, just over half the number re- corded in 2016, when 1.2 million claims were regis- tered, comparable to the level recorded in 2014 be- fore the peaks of 2015 and 2016. Syrian (102,400 first-time applicants), Iraqi (47,500) and Afghan (43,600) con- tinued to be the main citi- zenships of people seeking international protection in the EU Member States in 2017, together accounting for 30% of all first-time ap- plicants. The bulk of claims were filed in Germany; 198,300 or 31% of the total first- time applicants. This was followed by Italy (126,600, or 20%), France (91,100, or 14%), Greece (57,000, or 9%), the United Kingdom (33,000, or 5%) and Spain (30,400, or 5%). Greece was also the high- est country that took in most first-time asylum seekers relative to its popu- lation (5,295 per million population), ahead of small and densely-populated states like Cyprus, Luxem- bourg and Malta (3,502 per million – one asylum claim per 285 nationals). Among Member States with more than 5,000 first- time asylum seekers in 2017, the number of first-time applicants compared in rel- ative terms with the previ- ous year rose most in Spain (+96%, or 14.900 more first- time asylum seekers in 2017 than in 2016), France (+19%, or 14,300 more), Greece (+14%, or 7,200 more) and Italy (+4%, or 5,400 more). In contrast, the largest relative decreases were re- corded in Germany (-73%), Austria (-44%), the Nether- lands (-17%) and the United Kingdom (-15%). Syria (16% of the total number of first-time appli- cants) was in 2017 the main country of citizenship of asylum seekers in the EU Member States, a position it has held each year since 2013. Of the 102,400 Syr- ians who applied for asy- lum for the first-time in the EU in 2017, almost 50% were registered in Germany (49,000). In total, Syrian was the main citizenship of asylum seekers in fourteen EU Member States. Iraq (7% of the total num- ber of first-time applicants) was the second main coun- try of citizenship of asylum seekers in the EU Member States in 2017. Of the 47,500 Iraqis seeking asylum pro- tection for the first-time in the EU in 2017, close to 50% applied in Germany (21,900). Iraqi was the main citizenship of asylum seek- ers in three EU Member States. With 43,600 first-time ap- plicants (or 7% of the EU total) in 2017, Afghanistan was the third main coun- try of citizenship of asylum seekers in the EU Member States. More than one- third applied in Germany (16,400). At the end of 2017, 927,300 applications for interna- tional protection in the EU Member States were still under consideration by the national authorities. At the end of 2016, this figure was slightly higher (1,094.100). Germany had the largest share of applications pend- ing in the EU at the end of 2017 (443,800, or 48% of the EU total), ahead of Italy (152,400, or 16%), Austria (57,700, or 6%) and Sweden (51,500, or 6%). Less asylum claims filed in Malta, Germany takes refugee crisis bulk 650,000 first- time asylum seekers registered in the EU in 2017 – Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans continued to be the top citizenships JAMES DEBONO THE proposed 673-room stu- dent residence, which will rise to nine f loors, is set to cover an area of 8,780sq.m of land known as Ta' Gjalpos be- tween Mater Dei hospital and University of Malta. The residences will be built in five blocks, three of which will be rising to nine storeys and two will be rising to eight storeys. The project will also include a language school, a gym and office space, a mini con- venience store, electronics store, pharmacy, stationery and post office, a multi faith room, study area and a laun- derette. An underground carpark with a gross f loor area of cir- ca 18,700sq.m providing 441 car-parking spaces is also in- cluded. The project will be "effec- tively visually linking" Mater Dei and the university, a pro- ject development statement presented by the developers states. Earlier plans, which have now been superseded, had foreseen development of up to 12 storeys. The proposed development will occupy a site known as Ta' Gjalpos, off Triq San Ġwann Tal-Għargħar in Msi- da, with an area of approxi- mately 8,780sq.m. Most of the site is presently occupied by the abandoned former Calamatta Garden Centre and an adjacent resi- dence. The local plan reserves the site for future expansion of Government Institutions. The complex will be reached from the University by walk- ing along the pavement ad- jacent to the International Maritime Law Institute and the European Studies prem- ises. Equally it can easily be reached by students arriving from Mater Dei Hospital. The project is being under- taken by Vassallo Builders that in 2015 were awarded a tender to develop and operate the complex. The tender had attracted on- ly one bid for "the concession, design, building and opera- tion of a University Residence and Community Complex" on land bought by the University of Malta in 2013. The bid was made by Vassallo Builders which has now formed a new subsidiary called Campus Residence Malta Ltd. The University of Malta had previously purchased the site. The lease agreement be- tween the University and the owners of the Lija student res- idence will expire this year. According to the PDS, the Student Residence Complex will facilitate mobility to and from the University of Malta campus. "The convenience of living near the campus provides students easy access to nu- merous resources, such as mentors and academic advi- sors, the faculties, the library, computer labs, recreational facilities and student organi- sations". Proposed university village to rise up to nine floors