Germany Sees Sharp Drop in Asylum Applications

(MENAFN) Germany experienced a sharp drop in asylum applications in August 2025, with official data revealing a nearly 60% decrease compared to the same month last year. According to the German Interior Ministry, 7,803 migrants sought asylum in August 2025, down from 18,427 in August 2024—a reduction of 10,624 applications.

“Our asylum policy change is working. Our measures are successful,” Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told a newspaper, pointing to the tougher border controls introduced by the new government in May shortly after taking office.

"Now it is a matter of tightening up the common European asylum system in order to further reduce the migration pressure on Europe," the conservative minister added.

Historically, Germany has been Europe’s top destination for asylum seekers, but recent data shows a shift in migration routes. From January to June 2025, Spain became the leading asylum destination with about 76,000 applications, followed closely by France at 75,000 and Italy with roughly 63,000. During this same period, Germany received 61,000 asylum claims, the ministry reported.

While Berlin attributes the downturn to newly enforced border policies, critics argue multiple elements are influencing migration trends, including evolving conditions in conflict zones and a natural decline in migrants from countries like Ukraine and Syria.

During the February election campaign, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats vowed to implement stringent measures to curb irregular migration. After forming a coalition government in May, they rolled out enhanced border checks with neighboring EU nations. Under these rules, police now turn away individuals lacking valid travel documents at border points, including asylum seekers who have traveled through other EU countries before reaching Germany.

Merz’s party insists that EU regulations require asylum seekers to apply in the first EU country they enter—such as Greece or Italy—rather than moving on to Germany for processing.

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