Welt: Germany no longer EU leader in asylum applications

Germany is no longer the main destination for asylum seekers in the European Union, dropping to fourth place in the overall EU ranking by number of applications, Welt am Sonntag reports.

New European Union data for the first quarter of 2026 shows a significant decline, with Germany no longer leading in asylum statistics.

According to the publication, the number of first-time asylum applications in Germany fell by 23% compared to the same period last year, totaling 28,922 applications. It is also noted that for the first time since 2015, Germany has fallen to fourth place in Europe, behind France, Spain, and Italy.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that in May 2025, the previous 2015 cabinet decision allowing asylum seekers to enter Germany was revoked and that asylum seekers are now turned back at the borders if they have already applied in other EU countries.

Experts cited by the newspaper say the decline in applications is linked to tighter border controls on Germany’s land frontiers, a new government migration policy, and a reduction in refugee flows from Syria and Ukraine. However, Afghan nationals remain the largest group of asylum applicants in Germany, accounting for around 38% of all submissions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada