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The EUAA has just published its flagship annual Asylum Report 2025. EU+ countries received 11 % fewer asylum applications in 2024 compared to the year prior. Set against this context, the report provides an overview of Member States’ responses to the evolving migratory shifts that occurred in 2024, and the early months of 2025. It also sets the stage for the EUAA’s first major annual State of Asylum Conference taking place next week, under the theme: “EU Asylum at a Crossroads?”.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has just published its annual, flagship, Asylum Report 2025. Earlier this year, the EUAA reported that the number of asylum applications lodged in the EU+ had decreased by 11 % in 2024. Five EU countries: Germany (237 000), Spain (166 000), Italy (159 000), France (159 000) and Greece (74 000) received almost four fifths of all applications lodged in the EU+.

The report provides a qualitative overview of the work of national authorities on their asylum and reception systems, in response to evolving migratory trends caused, for example, by the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, or the instrumentalization of asylum seekers by some third States. For the first time, the EUAA is also publishing a series of national factsheets, briefly outlining the asylum situation in each EU+ country.

This year, the EUAA Asylum Report’s key findings include:

• In response to changing trends – EU+ countries adapted their national policies, practices and legislation. Following the fall of Bashar-al-Assad in late 2024, most EU+ countries halted the processing of applications lodged by Syrians, pending further clarity on the situation.

• Member States fast-tracked certain profiles – By investing in making procedures faster or creating more one-stop models for registration and processing of asylum applications, national authorities were able to take the largest number of decisions at first instance since 2017. This aimed at reducing the overall backlog of cases, before the entry into application of new asylum and reception rules in mid-2026.

• Strengthening reception systems – National authorities allocated resources to improving reception facilities and increasing human capacity, through recruitment and training. Some countries also began to tighten rules on material reception conditions, such as financial allowances. Despite this, pre-existing deficiencies in reception systems which remained under significant pressure persisted.

• Implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum – 2024 has been particularly demanding for Member States as they prepare to implement the EU’s new asylum and reception rules. A key challenge has been to plan for the screening of irregular arrivals, as well as preparing for changes to the new Eurodac, which will become the EU’s migration and asylum database.

First EUAA State of Asylum Conference: “EU Asylum at a Crossroads?”

On 18 June 2025, the EUAA will host its first ever #StateOfAsylum Conference: “EU Asylum at a Crossroads?” in Malta. The event will bring together high-level EU policymakers, international organisations and civil society to discuss the current state of asylum and migration in the EU. A dedicated session will examine the EUAA’s Asylum Report 2025, in depth.

The Report stresses the political importance of the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. All key EU actors, together with the Member States are working together to embrace a common framework, based on common values, toward a common end – firm but fair rules that ensure those in genuine need of international protection receive it, and those that are not, are returned with dignity.