EU+ countries received around 332,000 applications for international protection between January and June 2026, down 17% from the same period in 2025 and the lowest first-half total since 2021.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) published the figures in its mid-year review of Latest Asylum Trends. The Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs reported them on 24 September 2026. EU+ covers the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland.
The review also lists stronger border management among the areas where the EU worked with partner countries during the first half of the year.
Five nationalities, fewer files
The decline was driven mainly by fewer applications from Venezuelan, Syrian, Colombian, Ukrainian and Turkish nationals.
Afghans lodged the most applications, at around 39,000, followed by Venezuelans with 33,000 and Bangladeshis with 20,000.
Big four, three-quarter slice
France received the most applications in the first half of 2026, at around 69,000. Italy followed with 66,000, while Spain and Germany each received about 55,000.
Together, the four countries accounted for roughly three-quarters of all applications. By population size, Greece received the most, followed by Cyprus.
Slim pickings, steep Syrian slide
Around 31% of first-instance decisions in the EU+ granted refugee or subsidiary protection status, broadly in line with the 2025 figure. Refugee status was granted more often than subsidiary protection.
Almost 45,000 decisions involved Syrians, whose recognition rate fell to 19%, from 28% in 2025 and 90% in 2024.
Recognition rates were also low for Bangladeshis and Venezuelans, both at 3%, Egyptians at 2% and Peruvians at 3%. The EUAA reported that these figures helped keep the overall EU+ rate low.
Shorter queue, tall backlog
Around 770,000 cases were awaiting a first-instance decision at the end of June 2026, 8% fewer than a year earlier.
Lower application numbers have eased some pressure on asylum systems and reduced first-instance backlogs. However, the wider caseload remains substantial, particularly at the appeal and review stage.
Diplomacy-first playbook
Cooperation with partner countries remained central to EU migration policy in the first half of 2026. It covered border management, action against migrant smuggling, returns and readmission, refugee and host-community protection, and legal migration.
This approach follows the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy adopted by the European Commission in January 2026. It emphasises migration diplomacy and cooperation across migration routes, including border management, anti-smuggling measures, protection, returns and legal pathways.
Uneven load, open questions
The fall in applications comes alongside a 31% recognition rate, a heavy concentration of claims in four countries and a substantial appeal and review caseload. The easing of pressure has not been uniform.
Outcomes also vary sharply by nationality. Syrian recognition fell from 90% in 2024 to 19% in the first half of 2026, while several other nationalities recorded rates of just 2% to 3%.
National asylum systems face similarly uneven pressure. France, Italy, Spain and Germany handle about three-quarters of applications, while Greece and Cyprus receive the most relative to their population sizes.
It remains unclear whether the fall in first-instance backlogs will extend to appeal and review cases.
Syrian recognition rates may also continue to shift after falling from 90% to 28% and then to 19%. The effects of the EU’s January 2026 partner-country strategy, including returns and readmission measures, are still developing.