The asylum landscape in Europe experienced notable changes in the first half of 2025. By June, 399,000 asylum applications were filed in EU+ countries, marking a 23% decline from the previous year. A significant decrease in Syrian applications resulted in Germany no longer being the top recipient, with France and Spain surpassing it. Most applications continued to be submitted by nationalities with low recognition rates in the EU+.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) released its Mid-Year Review on the Latest Asylum Trends, with detailed analysis of the main nationalities seeking asylum and the primary European countries receiving these applications. By June 2025, EU+ countries received 399,000 asylum applications, a 23% reduction compared to the first half of 2024. The decrease was primarily due to a significant drop in Syrian applications (25,000), which fell by two-thirds (-66%). Meanwhile, Venezuelan applications (49,000) increased by nearly a third (+31%) year-over-year.
Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria last December, Venezuelans emerged as the largest nationality group seeking protection in the EU+ in the first half of 2025. This shift influenced the main recipient EU+ countries. By June, France (78,000) and Spain (77,000) received more applications than Germany (70,000), followed by Italy (64,000) and Greece (27,000). Greece saw the most applications per capita: 1 application for every 380 residents. While France’s application numbers remained stable year-over-year, Germany (-43%), Italy (-25%), and Spain (-13%) saw declines compared to the first half of 2024.
Specific EU+ countries are preferred by third-country nationals when seeking international protection. Venezuelans typically apply in Spain due to shared language, an existing diaspora, and a propensity by Spanish authorities to grant national protection. Consequently, Venezuelans filed almost all their applications in Spain (93%), with an increase of almost a third (+29%) compared to the first half of 2024. Around a quarter of EU+ asylum applications are from nationalities with visa-free access to the Schengen area, mainly Venezuelans and Colombians. The European Parliament is set to vote on a more robust and adaptable visa suspension mechanism next month.
Alongside Venezuelans, other nationalities showed increased trends. Ukrainians (16,000) continued to submit more asylum applications, up by 29%. Nearly half of all Ukrainian applications were filed in France, with Poland accounting for almost one-third. However, these numbers are overshadowed by the 4.3 million Ukrainian temporary protection beneficiaries by June 2025.
Afghans (42,000) were the second-largest applicant group in the first half of 2025, making up a tenth of all applications, although the number has been declining since 2023. Following Syrians, Bangladeshis (17,000) and Turks (17,000) also submitted fewer applications, with decreases of 26% and 41%, respectively, year-over-year.
The EU+ recognition rate for the first half of the year was 25%, the lowest recorded semi-annual or annual rate. This was influenced by a significant drop in protection decisions for Syrians, with many EU+ countries suspending the processing of their applications. This figure does not indicate stricter protection needs assessments but is due to procedural factors. For instance, when Syrians withdraw their applications, some national authorities record it as a negative decision statistically.
Recognition rates for some nationalities, such as Bangladeshis (4%), Pakistanis (10%), and Nigerians (10%), have remained stable. However, others have seen significant changes. The recognition rate for Malians increased from 41% (in 2021) to 79%, and for Haitians, it rose from 10% (in 2020) to 86% in the first half of 2025. Malian applications (9,000) remained stable (-6%), while Haitian applications (7,200) increased by 27%. Around three-quarters of Malians applied in Spain, whereas almost all Haitians applied in France (99%), with Haitian applications in France up by nearly 57%.
In the first half of 2025, about 51% of applications came from nationalities with a low recognition rate (≤ 20%). Many of these applications might be subject to an accelerated examination under new rules effective mid-2026. By June 2025, 918,000 applications were pending a first-instance decision.
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