France and Spain have overtaken Germany as the top destinations for asylum seekers in the EU, new figures show.
By June 2025, France had received 78,000 asylum applications, Spain 77,000, and Germany 70,000—ending Germany’s long run as the main destination in Europe.
Venezuela is now the leading country of origin for asylum seekers, with nearly 49,000 requests—up by almost a third from last year. Martin Wagner from the International Centre for Migration Policy Development linked the surge to the Trump administration’s tougher immigration rules in the United States, prompting more Venezuelans to look to Europe instead.
Because Venezuelans can enter the EU without a visa and stay for 90 days, many apply for asylum only after arriving in Europe, Wagner noted.
