Germany loses appeal as top destination for Middle Eastern migrants
Is Germany no longer a paradise for migrants? This is suggested by a confidential report commissioned by the European Commission. It turns out that Syrians and refugees from other nationalities are now more likely to choose France and Spain. This marks the first situation of its kind in years.
For many years, Germany was the most popular country for asylum seekers. Every year, thousands of applications were received from migrants, particularly from Syria. However, today, the popularity of Berlin, Munich, and other German cities has declined among people from the Middle East.
Such conclusions can be drawn from an analysis of the report commissioned by the European Commission, which German journalists accessed. It shows that in the first quarter of 2025, there was a significant drop in asylum applications among Syrians and people of other nationalities.
New research conducted by the Commission reveals noticeable changes, particularly in the number of Syrians applying for asylum, according to journalists from "Welt am Sonntag."
The report indicates that France is currently the most popular country for asylum seekers, with 40,871 asylum applications submitted there. Spain is in second place, with 39,318 submissions. Germany rounds out the top three, with 37,387 asylum requests in the first quarter of 2025. This represents a 41 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
According to the report, Germany's introduction of border controls could influence this shift. Since October 2023, controls have been in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Since September 2024, German border guards have been inspecting vehicles at the borders of France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.
According to the report, Hungary and Slovakia are on the other end of the spectrum. Budapest and Bratislava's strict migration policies have resulted in 22 and 7 asylum applications being submitted there, respectively.
