First-time asylum submissions in the EU fell by almost a third in May compared to the same month last year, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU statistics agency.

About 54,800 people had lodged first-time asylum claims in any EU country in May this year, which is 30 percent lower compared to the same month last year. 

However, it is not possible to extrapolate definitive trends from this development, as that number of initial applications actually marked a slight increase compared to the previous three months of the year.

In April 2025, for example, 48,935 people applied for asylum in the EU, which is 12 percent lower than in May. 

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Most first-time applications from Venezuela

With a total of 8,085 initial applications submitted in May, people from Venezuela made up the largest group of asylum seekers.

This was followed by applicants from Afghanistan (4,575), Bangladesh (3,095), and Syria (2,935). 

According to the data, most initial applications were filed in Spain (12,755), ahead of Italy (11,760), France (9,490), and Germany (8,330). 

The highest rate of fresh asylum applications per capita was measured in Greece, with about 30 applications per 1,000 inhabitants, ahead of Spain (26), Cyprus and Luxembourg (both just shy of 26).

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Confusing data on follow-up applications

According to the Eurostat data, the number of follow-up asylum applications in May this year stood at 7,585, marking a slight rise compared to the previous month of four percent.

However, compared to May 2024, the rate of follow-up applications was 20 percent higher.

One of the reasons for this in application numbers, however, could be linked directly to a decision issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in October 2024, when the court ruled that certain types of oppression -- for example the Taliban's level of subjugation of women in Afghanistan -- qualified in and of itself as grounds for asylum.

This means that certain people, such as Afghan women, who prior to this ECJ ruling had not been recognized as fully-fledged refugees (but had instead been granted a lower protection status such as subsidiary protection), have now submitted follow-up applications to be fully recognized as refugees, which comes with greater privileges.

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Germany: making headway in lowering asylum application numbers

In the case of Germany specifically, these developments highlight that the number of initial applications submitted continued to fall, especially after the tightening of migration policies in recent months since the new government took over in May.

The number of initial asylum applications in Germany fell by almost half in the first six months of the year alone; according to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), there were a total of 61,336 initial asylum applications filed between January and June 2025, averaging about 10,200 monthly.

During the same period last year, that number stood at 121,416 initial applications, meaning an average of over 20,000 monthly applications.

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Cities in Germany feel 'relief' over fewer admitted arrivals

Local authorities in Germany say they are beginning to feel some relief on account of these declining numbers.

"It certainly helps that the number of asylum applications has fallen in recent months," Christian Schuchardt, the chief executive of the German Association of Cities, told the Augsburger Allgemeine daily newspaper. 

He stressed, however, that the situation on the ground remains tense, saying that cities in Germany continue to need "more financial support for the many integration tasks that we have to perform locally." 

"Cities must continue to care for the people who are already here. School placements, daycare placements, and housing are still in short supply. Immigration authorities are still at their capacity limits," Schuchardt emphasized, suggesting also that the repatriation of asylum seekers who are required to leave the country must "work better and faster."

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Smaller towns still feeling some pressure

Andre Berghegger, chief executive of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), which represents medium-sized and smaller local authorities, added that the "decline in asylum applications, which has been evident for several months now, is giving local authorities some breathing space."

"The decline in numbers means that the burden is not increasing further; we are seeing an easing in the reception and accommodation of newly arriving refugees."

"However, there is still no sign of relief, as a large number of people have come to Germany in the last three and a half years who still need to be housed, cared for, and integrated," Berghegger added.

"Now the focus must shift to the integration of people with the right to remain."

with AFP, EPD, KNA