Fewer asylum applications: Germany is recording a drastic decline!

Fewer asylum applications: Germany is recording a drastic decline!

The numbers speak for themselves: in the first half of 2023, the number of asylum applications in Germany fell significantly. A total of 61,336 people made an initial application for asylum in the first six months. This corresponds to a decrease of almost 50 percent compared to the same period last year Antenna Münster reported and refers to data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf).

A possible reason for this development could be the recently introduced stationary controls at the German land borders, which are linked to measures by Balkan states to curb irregular migration. These strategies appear to be bearing fruit. The situation in Syria is also a decisive factor. After the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2022, there is some stabilization, which may lead many Syrians to rethink their escape plans.

Countries of origin and refugee movements

In the first half of 2023, more than 15,181 initial applications for asylum were received from Afghanistan, making Afghanistan the leading country of origin. Syria follows closely with 15,127 applications, taking second place. Between December 9 and mid-June, over 273,000 Syrians voluntarily returned to Syria from Turkey. This shows that return options are also taken into account, which influences the number of asylum seekers BAMF.

However, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains tense. The BAMF country analyst Dr. Kyara Klausmann emphasizes how important reliable information about countries of origin is in order to make asylum procedures legally compliant and efficient. The BAMF’s “Country Analyzes” department continually examines the situation in these countries and makes well-founded decisions on asylum applications.

Trends at European level

If you look beyond the German borders, the picture of asylum applications in the EU becomes increasingly differentiated. According to UNHCR data, a total of 117.3 million people were displaced worldwide in 2023, including 6.9 million asylum seekers. Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey made the most initial applications in the EU. In Germany, an average of 3,900 initial applications were registered per million inhabitants, which is above the EU average of 2,337, reported destatis.

In order to better protect and support refugees in Europe, attention must be paid to the various recognition quotas. In Germany this rate will be 52 percent in 2023, while other EU countries such as Spain and Romania have significantly lower rates. As the saying goes: “Everyone is the master of his own luck”. In the context of asylum procedures, it becomes clear that the legal framework and the social integration of those seeking protection are crucial for their success.

The developments of the last few months have shown that asylum policy poses major challenges both nationally and internationally. In times when many people are fleeing persecution and conflict, it remains important to remain vigilant and view the situation critically. After all, we all need a good knack for humanity.