Asylum Applications in Germany Experience Notable Decline – Spiegel
Germany had recently decided to strengthen border controls in response to a series of violent crimes attributed to foreigners. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Germany, historically the leading destination for asylum seekers within the EU, has experienced a significant drop in new applications, as reported by Der Spiegel on Monday. This decline follows recent findings from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), which indicate that reduced asylum requests coincide with the introduction of stricter border checks by German authorities in response to rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
The report reveals that asylum applications in Germany fell by nearly 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with approximately 92,000 fewer applications recorded. Despite this decrease, Germany continues to be the top choice for first-time applicants, as noted by the EUAA.
In a broader context, asylum claims across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland have also seen a downward trend, with a total of 1.01 million applications in 2024—down 100,000 from the prior year. In contrast, application rates in countries such as Spain, France, and Italy have remained relatively stable.
Last year, most asylum seekers came from Syria, followed closely by individuals from Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Türkiye.
The sharp decline in asylum applications aligns with Berlin's implementation of stricter entry policies, addressing growing public concerns regarding immigration. In 2024, Germany strengthened border controls with its EU neighbors, citing an uptick in irregular migration. These measures, which involve enhanced checks along borders with Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, were extended for an additional six months in January in anticipation of federal elections.
The rise in anti-immigration sentiment is further fueled by violent incidents involving foreign nationals. In a tragic event last month, an Afghan asylum seeker drove into a labor union rally in Munich, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals, including a two-year-old child, and injuries to at least 39 others.
A similar incident occurred in December, where a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist drove his vehicle into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, causing five deaths, including that of a child, and injuring over 200 people.
Such high-profile attacks have intensified political demands for tighter immigration restrictions, which became a prominent issue in the recent parliamentary elections. As a result, the ruling Social Democratic Party has faced a decline in support, losing ground to the center-right Christian Democratic Union and the right-wing Alternative for Germany, both of which campaigned on the platform of stricter immigration policies.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The report reveals that asylum applications in Germany fell by nearly 30% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with approximately 92,000 fewer applications recorded. Despite this decrease, Germany continues to be the top choice for first-time applicants, as noted by the EUAA.
In a broader context, asylum claims across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland have also seen a downward trend, with a total of 1.01 million applications in 2024—down 100,000 from the prior year. In contrast, application rates in countries such as Spain, France, and Italy have remained relatively stable.
Last year, most asylum seekers came from Syria, followed closely by individuals from Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Türkiye.
The sharp decline in asylum applications aligns with Berlin's implementation of stricter entry policies, addressing growing public concerns regarding immigration. In 2024, Germany strengthened border controls with its EU neighbors, citing an uptick in irregular migration. These measures, which involve enhanced checks along borders with Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, were extended for an additional six months in January in anticipation of federal elections.
The rise in anti-immigration sentiment is further fueled by violent incidents involving foreign nationals. In a tragic event last month, an Afghan asylum seeker drove into a labor union rally in Munich, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals, including a two-year-old child, and injuries to at least 39 others.
A similar incident occurred in December, where a 50-year-old Saudi psychiatrist drove his vehicle into a crowd at the Christmas market in Magdeburg, causing five deaths, including that of a child, and injuring over 200 people.
Such high-profile attacks have intensified political demands for tighter immigration restrictions, which became a prominent issue in the recent parliamentary elections. As a result, the ruling Social Democratic Party has faced a decline in support, losing ground to the center-right Christian Democratic Union and the right-wing Alternative for Germany, both of which campaigned on the platform of stricter immigration policies.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
