Monika Stefanek
For the first time in years, Germany has ceased to be a major direction for asylum seekers in the European Union. Despite a crucial decrease in the number of proposals, the European Commission warns that the situation may shortly change. Reason? The increasing geopolitical tensions and fresh threats in the mediate East region.
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Record decrease in asylum applications
From the latest unpublished European Commission report, to which the German diary reached Welt am SonntagThe number of applicants for protection in Germany declined by 41 percent in the first 4th of 2025. This is the lowest score in years – a full of 37 387 applications were submitted.
Meanwhile, France took first place on the list – 40,871 applications were submitted there, and Spain followed it with 39,318. Germany has been outside the podium for the first time in a decade.
EU notes overall decline in migration
A simplification in the number of applications is evident across the Union. According to the report, in the first 3 months of the year a full of 210,641 people applied for asylum in EU countries, Norway and Switzerland. That's 19 percent little than in the same period the year before.
The countries with the lowest number of applications submitted are Hungary (22) and Slovakia (7), which reflects their tough line towards migration.
Where do refugees come from?
Although migration flows, any sources stay unchanged. In the first 4th of 2025, most asylum seekers came from:
- Venezuela – 25,375 people (44% increase),
- Afghanistan – 21,524 people,
- Syria – 15 138 people (decline by 56 percent).
The number of applications submitted by Ukrainian citizens (by 84%), China (by 87%) and India (by 56%) besides increased significantly.
In Germany, despite the decrease in the overall number, Syrians inactive represent a 4th of all applicants.
European Commission warns: it can get worse
According to the European Commission, the current decline can only be temporary. The study warns that the number of asylum applications may increase importantly again in the coming months. The reason include mass arrests in Turkey and expanding instability in the mediate East.
The situation in Syria is peculiarly worrying, where violent clashes have occurred between supporters of erstwhile president Bashar al-Assad and Islamist militants supporting the fresh government in Damascus. In addition, as the Commission experts point out, the weakening of the Syrian coast guard, which is the consequence of civilian war, may lead to the revival of smuggling networks which have remained inactive over the past years.
"There is simply a real hazard that we will shortly see another migration wave to Europe"– emphasizes 1 of the authors of the study quoted by Welt am Sonntag.
Europe at the turn
Although current statistic can give a momentary breath to many associate States, the precarious political situation in the EU neighbourhood forces us to stay vigilant. It may be that these months will only be quiet before another migratory challenge.
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