Asylum applications in the European Union have fallen by around 12 percent in 2024, according to a new report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). The Malta-based agency recorded just over one million initial applications last year across the 27 EU member nations, along with Norway and Switzerland.
This figure compares to 1.14 million in 2023, based on the report seen by German news agency DPA and the newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Germany received 235,925 initial applications, according to the reported EUAA data.
Germany Sees Significant Decrease
Despite these numbers, Germany experienced a significant decrease of 30.2 percent in asylum applications compared to 2023, according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). Most applicants in Germany came from Syria, Afghanistan, and Turkiye, reflecting the trends noted in the EUAA report.
Spain and Other EU Countries
Spain ranked second among European countries with the most asylum applications, recording 165,398 applicants. France followed with 158,512, and Italy with 154,824. The EUAA report stated that the majority of people seeking asylum in the EU came from Syria (15 percent), Afghanistan (8.7 percent), Venezuela (7.3 percent), and Turkiye (5.5 percent).
Hungary’s Minimal Applications Amid Tensions
Hungary received only 29 new asylum applications in 2024. This minimal number comes amid an escalating battle between Brussels and Budapest, centered around a massive fine leveled against Hungary for breaching EU asylum laws. In June 2024, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) fined Hungary $205 million for breaking the EU’s asylum laws by “unlawfully detaining” asylum seekers and deporting them before they could appeal the rejection of their applications.
Migration Dominates German Election Agenda
Migration remains a major issue for voters in the upcoming German election in February, with the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining ground with its anti-immigrant rhetoric. The drop in asylum applications may influence the political discourse as parties debate immigration policies and their impact on society.
