Germany loses top spot as asylum seekers favor France, Spain
Is Germany no longer a paradise for migrants? A secret report commissioned by the European Commission suggests this may be the case. It turns out that Syrians and refugees of other nationalities are now more inclined to choose France and Spain. This marks the first situation of its kind in years.
For many years, Germany was the most popular destination for asylum seekers, receiving thousands of applications annually from migrants, particularly from Syria. Today, the appeal of Berlin, Munich, and other German cities has waned among people from the Middle East.
These conclusions can be drawn from an analysis of the report commissioned by the European Commission, accessed by German journalists. It shows that in the first quarter of 2025, there was a significant drop in asylum applications from Syrians and people of other nationalities.
New research conducted by the Commission shows 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. Spain ranks second, with 39,318 submissions. Germany rounds out the top three, receiving 37,387 asylum requests in the first quarter of 2025, representing a 41 per cent drop compared to the previous year.
According to the report, Germany's introduction of border controls is one factor influencing this situation. Since October 2023, controls have been in place at the borders with Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. From September 2024, German border authorities have been checking vehicles at the borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark.
According to the report, Hungary and Slovakia are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Budapest and Bratislava's strict migration policies have resulted in just 22 and 7 asylum applications being submitted, respectively.
