EU asylum applications drop sharply, Germany falls to third place among destinations
Asylum requests across the EU, Norway and Switzerland have declined sharply in the first nine months of the year, with Germany now ranking third behind France and Italy.
According to a recently released EU Commission document, the number of asylum applications filed in the EU, Norway and Switzerland fell markedly in the first nine months of the year. France remains the top destination, Italy follows, and Germany has dropped to third place. German authorities report that Afghan nationals represent the largest share of new applicants, with Syrian and Turkish citizens trailing.
At the broader European level, the majority of newcomers also come from Afghanistan, with significant numbers from Venezuela and Bangladesh. Russian and Ukrainian applicants continue to seek protection, the latter mainly filing in France, Poland, Romania and Germany. While September saw a modest rise in first-time applications in Germany, the overall downward trend persists, with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees processing far fewer new cases than in previous years.
Why it matters
The decline signals shifting migration pressures on Europe and alters the burden distribution among member states.
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