Syrian citizens accounted for 16 percent of the total number of first applications, followed by Venezuelans and Afghans. Syria has consistently been the top country of origin for asylum-seekers since 2013, challenging the notion — pushed by some EU countries after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime late last year — that migrants who fled to Europe should return to a now so-called safe country.
Germany, Spain and Italy were the top destinations for asylum-seekers, collectively accounting for more than half of the first-time applications filed in 2024. Cyprus and Greece received the highest number of applicants relative to their populations, with 7.2 and 6.6 applicants per 1,000 people, respectively.
Denmark’s social-democrat Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued in a POLITICO interview this week that “mass migration” is “a threat to the daily life in Europe,” and has long championed a “zero asylum” policy.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz hardened his rhetoric on migration, though that didn’t save him from electoral defeat in February at the hands of conservative Friedrich Merz, who has an even tougher stance against migration.
The European Commission is also pursuing a major migration crackdown. Last week, the EU executive presented a new plan to streamline deportations, toughen penalties for rejected migrants who do not leave the bloc and create “return hubs” in countries outside the EU to house people awaiting deportation once their asylum application is rejected.
Hanne Cokelaere contributed to this report.