- Eurostat Reports 34,145 New Applications as France, Italy and Greece Receive the Highest Numbers
BRUSSELS: The European Union recorded a significant decline in first-time asylum applications in July 2026, with 34,145 non-EU citizens submitting applications for international protection across member states, according to figures released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.
The total was 39 per cent lower than the 55,680 applications recorded in July 2025 and 8 per cent below the 37,075 applications registered in June 2026.
The number of subsequent asylum applicants also fell sharply. A total of 5,780 subsequent applications were recorded in July 2026, representing a 52 per cent decline compared with 12,040 in July 2025 and a 2 per cent decrease from 5,900 in June 2026.
France, Italy and Greece Receive the Highest Numbers
France received the largest number of first-time asylum applications in July, with 9,000, followed by Italy with 5,140, Greece with 3,715, Spain with 3,590 and Germany with 3,075.
Together, these five countries accounted for 72 per cent of all first-time asylum applications recorded across the EU during the month, highlighting the concentration of asylum-related arrivals in a small number of member states.
Slovenia Records Highest Asylum Application Rate
Across the EU, the rate of first-time asylum applicants stood at 7.6 per 100,000 inhabitants in July 2026.
When measured against national population figures as of 1 January 2026, Slovenia recorded the highest rate, at 114.7 applicants per 100,000 inhabitants. Greece followed with 35.8, while Luxembourg registered 16.6.
The figures illustrate significant differences among EU member states in the relative scale of asylum applications.
More Than 1,200 Unaccompanied Minors Apply for Asylum
A total of 1,290 unaccompanied minors submitted first-time asylum applications across the EU in July 2026.
Slovenia received the highest number, with 265 applications, followed by Greece with 245 and the Netherlands with 210. France recorded 115 applications, while Belgium received 100.
The data provide an overview of changing asylum application trends across the European Union, including the distribution of applications among member states and the number of minors seeking international protection.
BY: The Times Union
