A significant decline in asylum applications has been observed across the European Union in the past year, marking a notable shift in migration patterns, according to an internal analysis by the European Commission. The data, revealed in a report by “Welt am Sonntag” indicates 19% fewer applications filed compared to 2024, totaling 780,209 as of December 16th.
The preliminary EU asylum data, which doesn’t differentiate between initial and subsequent applications, highlights Germany and France as the primary destinations, with 149,127 and 148,591 applications respectively. Spain and Italy follow, registering 137,263 and 125,824 applications. However, the distribution of asylum seekers is not uniform and reveals complex national dynamics.
France’s elevated application numbers are largely attributed to the influx of Ukrainian citizens pursuing longer-term residency permits, with over 12,000 such applications processed in 2025 alone. This contrasts with Germany, where a substantial increase in follow-up applications – exceeding 20,000 – originated from Afghan women already residing in the country. This phenomenon stems from a recent European Court of Justice ruling that provides refugee protection based on “gender-specific persecution” a decision that has significantly impacted the asylum process for vulnerable women.
Spain, meanwhile, is experiencing a disproportionate number of applications from Venezuelan nationals. A staggering 94% of the roughly 88,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers who submitted applications within the EU did so in Spain, placing considerable strain on the nation’s resources and asylum infrastructure. This surge is prompting discussions regarding the equitable distribution of responsibility among member states.
Despite the overall decrease in asylum applications, the EU Commission’s report also details a notable reduction in irregular migration via the perilous Canary Island route. This route saw a 61% decrease (approximately 17,000 apprehended individuals) in 2026, credited to “intensified coastal guard patrols by Mauritania and Senegal”. While presenting a potential success for border control measures, analysts question the long-term sustainability and ethical implications of outsourcing such operations to third-party nations, raising concerns about human rights and due process at sea. The data underscores the ongoing complexities and evolving political landscape surrounding migration within the EU, revealing a need for more nuanced and equitable strategies moving forward.
