Bild: Germany loses ground as migration destination

Germany is no longer the most popular destination for asylum seekers in the European Union (EU), falling to fourth place in terms of the number of asylum applications, Bild reports.

The report said, around 332,000 asylum applications were filed in the EU, as well as Norway and Switzerland, in the first half of 2026.

Excluding the pandemic years, this was the lowest figure since 2019. Overall, 17% fewer people arrived in the EU than during the same period last year.

France has now become the most popular destination for migrants in the EU, with around 69,000 asylum applications filed there.

It was followed by Italy with 66,000 and Spain with 55,000.

Germany, with around 54,000 applications, fell to fourth place, representing an almost 50% decline compared with last year.

The newspaper attributed the trend partly to border-control measures introduced by Germany at its external borders in late 2024.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov