An IMGW News Report
Key Takeaways
- In 2024, EU countries received over 900,000 first-time asylum applications from non-EU nationals – a 13% decline compared with 2023.
- The leading countries of origin for applicants were Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan.
- Germany, Spain, Italy and France remained the principal destinations for those seeking international protection in the EU.
Asylum approvals across the European Union declined sharply in the first quarter of 2025, as the bloc granted first-instance protection status to 66,315 applicants – marking a 33% fall from the previous quarter’s total of 99,390. The retreat reflects a broader tightening of asylum processing despite continuing instability in key origin countries.
Germany led with 15,590 positive decisions, followed by France (12,625) and Spain (11,565). These three nations alone accounted for nearly 60% of all protection grants in the EU, underscoring their continued centrality in European asylum geography.
The beneficiaries of EU protection reflected familiar patterns: Afghans received the most favourable decisions (18,500), trailed by Venezuelans (8,675) and Ukrainians (4,285). The overall composition of statuses granted at first instance remained stable – 49% were accorded refugee status, 26% humanitarian protection, and 25% subsidiary protection.
The figures emerge against a backdrop of declining asylum enthusiasm across several European capitals. Political movements sceptical of immigration have gained ground in recent years, particularly in countries like Hungary, Austria, and Italy. This sentiment appears to be influencing administrative tempo as well as policy recalibration. Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed reforms aimed at streamlining asylum processes while also strengthening border controls and accelerating returns.
“Europe’s readiness to grant sanctuary is waning”
Notably, the fall in positive decisions contrasts with longer-term data showing an overall rise in asylum applications. In 2023 alone, over 1.1 million people applied for asylum in the EU – up 21% from the previous year – making it the highest number since the 2015–2016 migration surge. Yet protection is becoming harder to secure, especially for applicants outside the most politically sensitive categories.
The data highlight the growing divergence between humanitarian need and political will. While EU member states remain bound by international conventions, national systems face pressure from administrative bottlenecks, judicial appeals, and shifting electoral landscapes.
For many asylum seekers, the path to refuge in Europe is narrowing – not because the need has lessened, but because Europe’s readiness to grant sanctuary is waning.
