European Union countries recorded approximately 332,000 international protection applications in the first half of 2026, a 17% decrease year-on-year. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum, this is the lowest half-year level observed since 2021, confirming the decline that began in 2024.
This decrease is notably explained by the collapse in the number of applications submitted by Syrian nationals since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad at the end of 2024. However, the European agency emphasizes that the Syrian political transition remains fragile. It also highlights the strengthening of cooperation between the EU and countries of origin or transit.
France Among the Four Main Destinations
France, Germany, Italy, and Spain accounted for three-quarters of the applications recorded between January and June. However, their relative share is decreasing as smaller states now host several thousand applicants. Relative to its population, Greece experiences the highest migration pressure. Afghans constitute the largest group of applicants with 39,000 cases, followed by Venezuelans and Bangladeshis.
Less than one-third of the applications examined during the semester resulted in protection being granted. Since June, nationals from countries with a recognition rate below 20% may be subject to an accelerated procedure, with faster removal in case of refusal. Despite the war in the Middle East, the European agency has not observed a corresponding increase in asylum applications within the Union.
