Germany Climbs to Third Place in Total Asylum Applications

In a significant shift, Venezuela has become the source of the most new asylum seekers in the European Union (EU), with approximately 49,000 applications in the first half of the year. This places Venezuela ahead of Syria, which traditionally held the top spot.

The population of Venezuela has seen a substantial decrease since 2017, with migration causing the population to shrink to around 28 million. The reasons for this mass emigration are primarily linked to authoritarian rule and poverty within the country.

Germany, which was previously the country with the most new asylum applications in the EU for over a decade, is no longer in that position. A decrease in applications has been observed, with 78,246 people applying for asylum in Germany for the first time from January to August, which is about half as many asylum applications as in the same period last year.

France and Spain are also seeing a significant number of asylum seekers. France has a notable number of asylum seekers from Ukraine, while Spain is an attractive destination for Venezuelan asylum seekers due to its growing economy and welcoming government.

Italy is in fourth place with 64,000 new asylum applications, and Afghanistan is in third place with 42,000 new applications. In total, 70,000 new applications were received by German authorities in the first half of the year, placing Germany in third place within the EU.

The overall protection rate for Venezuelans was last reported at 10.9 percent by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf). This means that only one in four initial asylum applications (25 percent) is approved.

The decrease in asylum applications is attributed to "a more consistent policy" by the EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner. However, the number of asylum appeals has increased significantly in the first half of the year. A total of 76,646 new main proceedings were filed with the administrative courts by the end of June.

The backlog of decisions remains a concern, with about 1.3 million decisions pending due to appeals being possible. There is also a backlog of over 900,000 applications in the first instance that have not yet been decided.

Cooperation with third countries is seen as necessary to ensure effective returns and relieve asylum systems. The EU is working with North African states to prevent migrants from fleeing to Europe, particularly in light of the frequent deadly disasters that occur when migrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean in unseaworthy boats.

As of the end of June, a total of 399,000 new applications were registered in the group of 29 countries (EU+), a decrease of 114,000 or 23 percent compared to the first half of 2024. The number of new asylum seekers within the European Union and the non-member countries of Norway and Switzerland has decreased overall.

It is estimated that over 9.1 million Venezuelans now live outside their home country. The situation in Venezuela continues to drive many to seek asylum in Europe, and the trend is expected to continue unless significant changes occur within the country.