February Decline: EU Sees Fewer Asylum Applications for Third Month in a Row

In February 2025, the European Union recorded a noticeable drop in applications for international protection. According to Eurostat, a total of 59,085 people applied for asylum for the first time across EU member states. This marks a 23% decrease compared to February 2024 (77,170 applications), and 12% fewer than in January 2025 (66,800), making it the third consecutive monthly decline.



At the same time, 7,630 repeat applications were filed — 6% more than a year ago, but 6% fewer than in January. This increase may indicate more intra-EU movements and growing difficulty accessing asylum with an initial application.

Where Asylum Seekers Are Coming From

The top five countries of origin in February were:
- Venezuela (8,345 applications)
- Afghanistan (5,610)
- Syria (4,630)
- Turkey (3,515)
- Colombia (2,890)

These figures highlight ongoing migration from regions with chronic political and economic crises.

77% of all first-time applications were registered in four countries:
- Spain (12,805)
- Germany (11,185)
- France (10,725)
- Italy (10,715)

This underscores the persistent uneven burden-sharing among EU states and raises questions about solidarity mechanisms.

Relative Impact by Country

In February 2025, there were 13.2 first-time asylum seekers per 100,000 EU residents. The highest rates were:
- Greece: 40.2
- Spain: 26.3
- Luxembourg: 25.6

These numbers provide essential context on the relative strain faced by smaller EU states with limited resources.

Vulnerable Groups: Unaccompanied Minors

Eurostat reported 1,720 first-time applications from unaccompanied minors in February:
- Syria: 300
- Afghanistan: 210
- Egypt: 200

Most applications were filed in:
- Germany (575)
- Spain (330)
- Greece (245)

Long-Term Pressures Remain

Despite the recent decline, migration pressure on the EU remains high. The growing number of repeat applications, the uneven geographic concentration, and a steady flow of unaccompanied minors confirm the need for structural reforms to the EU asylum system.

A Look Back at 2024: Migration Peaks and Policy Shifts

In 2024, the EU registered 1.14 million first-time asylum applications — the highest level since 2016. By comparison, 2022 saw 850,000 applications, while 2023 recorded just under 950,000.

The second half of 2024 was particularly intense, with over 100,000 applications filed each month between August and October, overwhelming national systems.

Notably, migration routes shifted geographically, with increasing numbers of asylum seekers arriving from Latin America — Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Haiti.

Calls for Reform Amid Rising Pressure

The recent spike in applications has reignited discussions about reforming the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Key proposals include:
- Mandatory quotas
- Faster procedures
- Unified handling of repeat claims

However, as of early 2025, a unified reform remains stalled. National governments are therefore tightening asylum policies at the domestic level.