The European Union has witnessed a significant decline in asylum applications, with a 23% drop in the first six months of 2025. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), this decrease is largely attributed to a substantial reduction in applications from Syrian nationals. Data from the EUAA shows that Syrians lodged around 25,000 requests in the 27-nation bloc, plus Switzerland and Norway, which is a 66% decrease compared to the same period last year.
The EUAA credits the ouster of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad and the new Syrian authorities’ efforts to promote stability and reconstruction for this decline. As a result, many displaced Syrians are now more hopeful about returning to rebuild their communities. Consequently, Syrians, who were once the largest group of applicants, are now the third largest, behind Venezuelans and Afghans.
In terms of destination countries, Germany has been overtaken by France and Spain as the leading destinations for asylum seekers. The total number of asylum applications received by EU+ countries in the first six months of the year was 399,000. Venezuelans, who are facing economic and political turmoil in their home country, accounted for 49,000 of these applications.
This overall decrease in asylum applications is likely to be welcomed by the European Union, which has been under pressure to address migration concerns. The European Commission has recently unveiled plans to make it easier to turn away asylum seekers and boost deportations, in response to a shift in public opinion and electoral gains by hard-right parties in several member states.
The decline in asylum applications from Syria can be seen as a positive development, as it suggests that the new authorities in the country are making progress in promoting stability and reconstruction. However, the ongoing influx of asylum seekers from other countries, such as Venezuela and Afghanistan, highlights the need for continued efforts to address the root causes of migration and to provide support to those in need of protection. As the EU continues to navigate these complex issues, it is likely that the topic of migration will remain a key area of focus for policymakers in the region.
