Between January and June, the 30 EU+ countries—which include the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—registered a total of 332,000 asylum applications. This number represents a 17% reduction compared to the first quarter of 2025 and constitutes the lowest volume recorded in the first half of a year since 2021, according to the FRA in a statement.
This drop follows a continuous trend observed since the end of 2024. According to the FRA, this decline reflects both a distinct composition of the nationalities applying, due to the unstable but persistent political change in Syria, and the efforts made by the European Union in collaboration with countries of origin and transit.
The agency also highlighted that the intensification of conflicts in the Middle East did not result in an increase in asylum applications within the EU+ area.
Analyzing by nationality, applications from Afghan citizens decreased by 7% compared to the same period last year, after having peaked at the end of 2025. Next were applications from Venezuelans, which fell by almost a third, with 93% of these being filed in Spain.
On the other hand, applications from Bangladeshi citizens remained among the most significant, showing a 13% year-on-year growth.
In terms of reception by country, France was the EU+ member that received the highest number of applications in the first half of 2026, totaling 69,000, which corresponds to one-fifth of the total. Italy followed closely with 66,000, followed by Spain and Germany, both with 55,000 applications. Together, these four countries absorbed approximately three-quarters of all registered asylum applications.
