(MENAFN) The total number of asylum requests submitted in EU+ countries fell by 23% during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, the European Union Agency for Asylum announced Monday.

EU+, which encompasses the 27 EU member states in addition to Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, recorded 399,000 asylum applications in the first half of 2025, according to the agency’s Mid-Year Review of Latest Asylum Trends.

This significant decrease was largely driven by a two-thirds reduction in applications from Syrians, dropping to 25,000.

For the first time in more than ten years, Syrians were no longer the largest nationality group seeking asylum in Europe.

After the fall of the Bashar Assad regime last December, Venezuelans became the leading nationality, submitting 49,000 applications, reflecting a 31% increase compared to the previous year.

Other prominent groups included Afghans, who were the second-largest nationality with 42,000 applications, and Ukrainians (16,000), whose numbers rose by 29%.

The shift also changed the distribution of asylum applications among member states.

France (78,000) and Spain (77,000) both received more applications than Germany (70,000), which has historically been the primary destination.

Italy followed with 64,000 applications, while Greece recorded 27,000.

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