World

Decline in EU asylum applications

Jan 11, 2026

Brussels [Belgium], January 11: The number of applications for asylum recorded by EU authorities fell again last year - this time by an annual 20%, the agency responsible for tracking the process has reported.
Data showed around 780,200 applications were registered in the 27 EU member states and partner countries Norway and Switzerland from the start of January to mid-December 2025, according to a non-public report by the European Commission.
This represents a drop of about one-fifth compared with the same period in 2024 and can be mainly attributed to the decline in asylum applications from people from Syria, the report said. The German Interior Ministry said at the beginning of this month that significantly fewer asylum seekers had arrived in the country. According to official data, the number of initial applications fell by 51% to 113,236 in 2025 compared with 2024. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune