In relation to overall trends, EU+ countries received 399.000 asylum applications between January and June 2025, representing a 23% year-on-year decline. This was driven primarily by a two-thirds decrease in applications from Syrians (25.000), who fell to the third largest group of applicants after Venezuelans (49.000) and Afghans (42.000). The fall followed the end of the Assad regime in December 2024, which has encouraged some displaced Syrians to consider return.

Regarding destination countries, France (78.000) and Spain (77.000) each received more applications than Germany (70.000), which recorded the steepest fall (-43%). Italy (64.000) and Greece (27.000) followed, with Greece registering the highest number of applications per capita (1 per 380 residents). Trends were uneven: while applications in France remained stable, those in Germany, Italy and Spain decreased significantly compared with 2024.

In terms of recognition, the EU+ rate dropped to 25%, the lowest on record. This was largely due to suspended or withdrawn Syrian cases being statistically counted as negative. Outcomes varied by nationality: Low and stable recognition rates persisted for Bangladeshis (4%), Pakistanis (10%) and Nigerians (10%). Higher rates were seen for Malians (79%) and Haitians (86%), whose applications rose particularly in Spain and France. At mid-2025, around 918.000 applications were still pending at first instance, and half of all claims came from citizenships with a recognition rate of 20% or below.

For further details, please read the press release from the EUAA.