Decrease in Refugee Applications in Europe: Germany Loses Lead, Spain Moves to the Top
Over the past six months, the pattern of asylum applications across the European Union has undergone significant changes, with a remarkable drop in requests in Germany. According to internal data from the European Agency for Asylum (EUAA), between January 1 and June 30, 2025, European countries recorded a total of 388,299 asylum claims, marking a nearly 23% decrease compared to the same period last year. A notable development is that Germany, which had consistently been the top country for asylum applications, has now fallen behind Spain, which received over 76,000 applications in the first half of 2025. France ranked second with more than 75,000 requests. Other leading countries include Italy, Greece, and Belgium. The data indicates that the majority of applicants in Germany originate from Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey, with these three nations accounting for the lion’s share of claims—over half of all applications from Germany. This shift highlights evolving migration patterns and possibly increased border controls. Meanwhile, in Finland, law enforcement authorities have opened nearly fifty criminal cases involving asylum seekers arriving through the Russian border, suspected of committing offenses against life, health, property, as well as sexual crimes, drug-related offenses, and crimes against state authority. These developments reflect a complex landscape of migration and security challenges across Europe.