Spain is now the top EU asylum destination, surpassing Germany

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Report confirms that Germany no longer ranks as the top destination for asylum-seekers in the EU. The end of the Assad era has led to a decrease in Syrians who apply for protection within the EU.

Financial Times reports that the EU asylum system underwent a “significant” shift following the departure of Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The Malta-based agency recorded 64,000 asylum claims in the EU in May — the latest period available — marking a decline of nearly a quarter compared with the same month in 2024. This was mainly due to an “extremely rapid” drop in Syrian requests, which dropped from approximately 16,000 applications in October last years to just 3,100 claims in May.

In Germany, which is a popular destination for Syrian asylum seekers, the total number of asylum applications in May fell by half, to 9,900 from 18,700 during the same period last year.

The report shows that Spain has now become the country with most asylum applications. In May, there were almost 12,800, down from 16,300 in last year. EUAA stated that, while the overall number is down, people are fleeing Venezuela because of the “severe” economic and political crises in the country.

According to the report, this trend may also be connected with US immigration restrictions, including deportations against Venezuelans.

The report states that Syrian asylum applications dropped sharply at the start of 2025, after a decade of being the most common group in the EU.

The agency reports that “since February Germany is no longer the top EU+ destination. Spain, Italy, and France have all received more applications by May 2025.”

Italy is now the second most popular country, receiving 12,300 applications in May. This is down from 15,500 claims last year. A third of these were submitted by Bangladeshis and Peruvians. France is in third place with 11,900 applications, slightly less than last year’s 12,500, mainly driven by Congolese who fled conflict at home, Afghans, and Haitians.

As a way to discourage irregular migration, several European countries such as Denmark are looking at ways to deport migrants to countries where they are not from.

Magnus Brunner led a mission in Libya earlier this month in response to an increase in arrivals from the politically insecure country, especially in Greece. The trip to Libya to request that the authorities curb departures was cut short when he was asked by his superiors to leave.

The EUAA stated that the decline in asylum numbers driven by Syrians “was likely not due to any changes in asylum policies” by European governments, but “rather reflects changing conditions in Syria”.

In December, the islamist rebels Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad and ended Syria’s 13-year brutal civil war. The EUAA reported that many EU countries put on hold the processing of asylum requests by Syrians following the regime change. However, they were technically still accepting new applications.

Germany is likely to remain the country with the most asylum seekers despite the fact that it has received many more applications in recent years than any other country.

Eurostat reports that between 2008 and 2024 Germany granted asylum to 150 000 applicants, compared to 50 900 in Spain, 40 00 in Italy, and 65 200 in France.

Amy Kazmin, Rome; Leila Abboud, Paris