• Asylum applications in the EU dropped by 23% in early 2025.
• Syrian applications fell by 66%, marking a notable decrease.
• Venezuelans have now become the largest group of asylum seekers.
• France and Spain overtook Germany as top destinations for asylum applications.
• Approximately 399,000 asylum applications were received in the first half of 2025.

According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), asylum applications in EU+ countries fell by 23% during the first half of 2025, with a total of 399,000 applications recorded. This significant decline is largely attributed to a 66% decrease in Syrian applications, dropping them from the largest group to fourth place among asylum seekers, as the political situation in Syria evolves following the fall of Bashar al-Assad according to aljazeera, thelocal, and aa.

The EUAA report indicates that the number of Syrian applications plunged from approximately 25,000 down from a previous high of around 16,000 per month in late 2024. This reflects a growing optimism among Syrians regarding their homeland, which has led to many choosing to return. Venezuelans, facing severe crises at home, have now become the largest group of asylum applicants, lodging around 49,000 applications, a 31% year-on-year increase according to thelocal, aljazeera, and aa.

The changing dynamics have also influenced the preferred destination countries for asylum seekers. Countries like France and Spain have overtaken Germany, previously the top destination. France received approximately 78,000 applications while Spain had around 77,000, with Germany processing 70,000, reflecting a shift in migratory patterns across the EU+ states according to aljazeera, thelocal, and aa.