France and Spain overtake Germany in asylum applications

France and Spain received more asylum applications in the first half of 2025 than Germany, with a surge in Venezuelan arrivals and a sharp decline in Syrian applicants reshaping the EU’s asylum landscape.

Fresh data released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) on Monday shows that by the end of June 2025, France (78,000 applications) and Spain (77,000) overtook Germany (70,000) as the leading destinations for asylum seekers. This marks a significant shift: for nearly a decade, Germany had consistently topped the list as the main EU destination.

Across the EU plus Norway and Switzerland, 399,000 asylum applications were lodged in the first six months of 2025 — a 23% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

Drop in Syrian applications after Assad regime collapse

One of the most striking changes is the steep decline in applications from Syrian citizens. Around 25,000 fewer Syrians sought protection in the EU compared with the first half of 2024. Analysts attribute this to the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, which has altered the dynamics of displacement and return.

Applications in Germany, Italy, and Spain fell sharply compared to 2024, respectively by 43%, 25%, and 13%, while numbers remained relatively stable in France. Together, these four countries still accounted for nearly three-quarters of all asylum claims lodged in the EU.

Venezuela becomes the top country of origin

For the first time in over a decade, Venezuelans have replaced Syrians as the largest group of asylum seekers in the EU. In the first half of 2025, Venezuelans lodged around 49,000 requests, a year-on-year increase of almost one-third.

Migration experts link this surge to recent developments in the United States. Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 has brought a hardline approach to immigration, with a particular crackdown on Venezuelan migrants. His administration recently ended temporary protection for more than 250,000 Venezuelans, pushing many to look for alternatives.

“You could say there seems to be a causal relationship: as the US has become more restrictive on migration in general, people have increasingly looked for other places to move,” Martin Wagner, an asylum expert at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), told Euronews.

Why Venezuelans choose Spain and Europe

Unlike in the US, Venezuelans can enter Europe visa-free and stay for up to 90 days in the Schengen area with just their passports. Once inside, many apply for asylum or other residency permits.

“Venezuelans have been coming to Europe for quite some time, but the majority actually remain within Latin America. Only a fraction continue onward, and when they do, it’s often because of family ties, existing communities, or linguistic and cultural familiarity,” Wagner explained.

Recognition rates for Venezuelan asylum applications in the EU remain below 20%, but several countries — especially Spain — grant alternative national protection statuses that offer residence and basic rights. Spain, in particular, is the primary destination: 93% of Venezuelan applications in Europe were made there, thanks to the shared language, a large existing diaspora, and historical ties.

Political implications in Europe

The shift in asylum dynamics is already fueling political debates across Europe.

• In Germany, the sharp decline in applications comes amid a domestic push to reform asylum procedures and accelerate deportations of rejected applicants.

• In France, the government is balancing its role as the EU’s top recipient of asylum seekers with mounting political pressure from the far right ahead of regional elections.

• In Spain, the influx of Venezuelans has become a central issue in immigration policy, but the government has so far framed it as a humanitarian responsibility given shared linguistic and cultural bonds.

Overall, the first half of 2025 marks a turning point in Europe’s asylum landscape: the traditional dominance of Germany as the main destination has ended, and new migration patterns — driven by geopolitical change in Syria, Latin America, and the United States — are reshaping the map.

Asylum Applications in the EU – First Half of 2025
(EU + Norway + Switzerland)

• Total applications: 399,000 (–23% vs. H1 2024)

• Top destination countries:

  • France – 78,000

  • Spain – 77,000

  • Germany – 70,000

  • Italy – 47,000

• Main countries of origin:

  • Venezuela – 49,000 (+30% YoY)

  • Syria – 37,000 (–25,000 vs. H1 2024)

  • Afghanistan – 28,000

  • Turkey – 19,000

  • Colombia – 15,000

• Key trends:

  • Germany no longer top recipient after a decade.

  • Sharp decline in Syrian applications after Assad regime fall.

  • Venezuelans now largest asylum-seeking group in EU.

 

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