France and Spain Surpass Germany as Top EU Asylum Destinations

Germany sees a 41% drop in asylum applications in early 2025, as EU-wide numbers decline and migration patterns shift.

Germany recorded 37,387 asylum applications in the first quarter of 2025, a 41% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
France and Spain now lead the EU in asylum applications, with 40,871 and 39,318 applications respectively in the same period.
EU-wide asylum applications fell by 19% year-over-year, with 210,641 applications filed across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland.
Applications from Venezuelans surged by 44%, while those from Syrians declined by 56%; Venezuela, Afghanistan, and Syria remain the top countries of origin.
The EU Commission raised concerns about potential migration surges due to instability in Turkey and the Middle East, alongside systemic challenges in migration policy reform.