Official figures indicate a significant decrease in initial asylum applications compared to the previous year. According to data reported by “Bild am Sonntag” authorities registered 70,011 applications between January and July. This represents a decline of over 50 percent when compared to the 140,783 applications filed during the equivalent period in 2024.
While July saw a slight increase in applications, reaching 8,293 compared to fewer than 7,000 in June, this figure remains considerably lower than the 18,503 applications recorded in July 2024, the newspaper reports.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has announced further measures targeting human smuggling operations. He stated that the reduction in initial asylum requests reflects a consistent policy, emphasizing the need for processing applications at the EU’s external borders, accelerated decision-making and consistent deportations. Dobrindt affirmed a heightened focus on combating smuggling networks, asserting the state’s responsibility in regulating entry into the country, rather than leaving it to criminal organizations.
