The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) recently published its mid-year review of the Latest Asylum Trends, showing that asylum applications continued to fall in the first half of 2026 across EU+ countries, comprising the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland.
EUAA mid-year review shows 17% fall in asylum applications
Between January and June 2026, EU+ countries received around 332,000 applications for international protection – 17% fewer than in the same period in 2025 and the lowest first-half total since 2021.
The overall decrease was driven mainly by fewer applications from Venezuelan, Syrian, Colombian, Ukrainian and Turkish nationals. Afghans lodged the highest number of applications, at around 39,000, followed by Venezuelans with 33,000 and Bangladeshis with 20,000.
France was the main EU+ destination in the first half of 2026, receiving around 69,000 applications. Italy followed closely with 66,000, while Spain and Germany each received around 55,000. Together, these four countries accounted for about three quarters of all applications. Relative to population size, Greece received the highest number of applications, followed by Cyprus.
Proportion of applications where protection is granted remain low
31% of first instance decisions on applications for international protection in the EU+ led to refugee or subsidiary protection status being granted, a low ‘recognition rate’ similar to 2025. Refugee status continued to be granted more often than subsidiary protection.
In the first half of 2026, almost 45,000 decisions were issued to Syrians, with a recognition rate of 19%, compared with 28% in 2025 and 90% in 2024. Large numbers of decisions were also issued to nationalities with very low recognition rates, including Bangladeshis (3%), Venezuelans (3%), Egyptians (2%) and Peruvians (3%). Taken together, these patterns helped keep the overall EU+ recognition rate low.
At the end of June 2026, around 770,000 cases were awaiting a first-instance decision, 8% fewer than a year earlier. Although declining applications have eased some pressure on asylum systems, and pending cases at first instance have fallen markedly, the overall caseload remains substantial, especially at appeal and review stage.
Cooperation with partner countries on migration management
Among other policy developments, cooperation with partner countries remained a central part of the EU’s migration strategy in the first half of 2026. This included stronger border management, action against migrant smuggling, return and readmission arrangements, protection for refugees and host communities, and legal migration.
This is in line with the overall EU approach, as outlined in the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, adopted by the Commission in January 2026, which places greater emphasis on migration diplomacy and a whole-of-route approach. This includes cooperation with partner countries on border management, migrant smuggling, protection, returns and legal pathways.
