Press Release: EU’s biometric database continues to ensure effective management of the Common European Asylum System

The 2009 annual report on the activities of EURODAC (the EU wide biometric tool which helps determine which Member State is responsible for examining an asylum claim), was published on 3 August 2010 by the European Commission.

The report gives essential information on patterns of asylum seeking and illegal entry in the EU, and shows a sharp decrease in the number of persons apprehended in connection with irregular crossing of the EU external border.

The figure for 'multiple applications' – asylum claims where the same person has already made an application in the same country or in another Member State – has increased to 23.3% from 2009's 17.5%.