In Germany, Syrians still do not feel fully assimilated after 10 years
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Euronews
10 hours ago
- Euronews
Germany sees 50% decline in asylum application in first half of 2025
According to reports by German media outlets, the number of asylum applications in Germany fell significantly in the first six months of 2025 in comparison with figures from the same time period last year. German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported that a total of 65,495 applications were submitted between 1 January and 30 June, citing previously unpublished data from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) - a decrease of 43% year-on-year. Another media outlet, BILD, reported that only 61,300 first-time applications for asylum were made in Germany in the first half of 2025. In June, the number of new applications was less than 7,000, a 60% decline from June 2024 numbers, and 70% from two years ago. The figure sets a new record for the lowest monthly applications submitted since March 2013. Germany no longer the top destination for asylum in Europe Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the Christian Social Union (CSU) sees the latest figures as confirmation of the effectiveness of his migration policy which has been regarded by many as controversial. In an interview with BILD, he noted the numbers indicate "clear successes of the migration turnaround" and emphasised that his ministry will continue to work to revamp the migration system "from head to toe". Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MEP and migration expert Lena Düpont also sees the declining figures as a major success. Speaking to German media, she noted that partnership agreements with key North African countries played a major role in reducing asylum figures. She also cited greater cooperation between third countries and the EU border protection agency Frontex as reasons behind this success. Europe-wide figures In the first half of 2025, Spain claimed the top spot for asylum application with the Iberian country recording just over 76,020 applications. France came in second, recording some 75,428, while Germany trailed in third place with 65,495 applications. Italy came in fourth with 62,534, then came Greece at 27,718 and Belgium recorded just over 17 thousand. On the lower end of the spectrum. Hungary, which endorses a notoriously strict immigration policy under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, received just 47 applications. Slovakia recorded 84 applications while Lithuania received 152. Countries of origin of asylum seekers in Germany and Europe According to the report, around 22% of asylum seekers in Germany were Afghan nationals, Syrians constituted around 20% of applicants while Turkish citizens made up 11% of applications received by Berlin. Russians made up the fifth largest nationality of asylum applicants, having submitted just over 3%. In total, close to 400,000 people applied for asylum in EU countries, Norway and Switzerland in the first half of this year. This is a decrease of around 23% from total figures of last year. On a continental level, the top three nationalities of applicants were Venezuelans, close to 50,000, Afghans with around 41,000 and Syrians with approximately 23,000.
Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
Russia uses chemical agents in Ukraine, Dutch and German agencies say
Russia is increasing its use of prohibited chemical weapons in Ukraine, including the World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin, Dutch and German intelligence agencies said on Friday. Dutch military intelligence and security service, together with the German intelligence service, found that the use of prohibited chemical weapons by the Russian military had become "standardised and commonplace" in Ukraine. According to the findings, the Russian military uses chloropicrin and riot control agent CS against sheltering Ukrainian soldiers, who are then forced out into the open and shot. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for more sanctions against Moscow and continued military support for Kyiv. Brekelmans, who stayed on in a caretaker role after the Dutch coalition government collapsed last month, said that he doesn't want to see the use of chemical weapons become normalised. Lowering the threshold for use "is not only dangerous for Ukraine, but also for the rest of Europe and the world," he said in a statement. Russia is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the use of chloropicrin and CS as weapons. The convention's watchdog, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), has found several incidents in Ukraine involving CS, but the group hasn't conducted a full investigation, which must be requested by the member states. The executive committee for the OPCW is holding a meeting next week, where it's expected to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine. Russian authorities have not immediately commented on the findings, but they have in the past denied using chemical weapons. According to Ukraine, Russia has carried out 9,000 chemical weapons attacks in the country since the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022. In 2024, the US State Department said that it had recorded the use of chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.
Local France
a day ago
- Local France
Macron to co-chair Ukraine talks with Europe leaders while in UK: Elysée
'There will certainly be a discussion on how to seriously maintain Ukraine's combat capability,' the Elysée said, adding that Starmer and Macron will co-chair the meeting of Kyiv's allies by video link. The meeting, on July 10th, will come as US-led peace talks on ending the more than three-year-old war against Ukraine have stalled. The United States, Ukraine's biggest military backer since the launch of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, said it was halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine. Macron will pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from July 8th to July 10th , when he will receive a royal welcome and address parliament. During the Ukraine meeting, Macron and Starmer will speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the French presidency said. The summit will touch upon the deployment of 'a reassurance force' to Ukraine after a ceasefire, the Elysee Palace said. Advertisement The discussions will also focus on 'how to increase pressure on Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire that it has consistently refused,' the French presidency added. Moscow has in recent weeks ramped up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, as US support for Kyiv has appeared to waver under US President Donald Trump. Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Thursday. The US president said he made no progress with Putin on ending the Ukraine war, as the Kremlin insisted Putin would stick to his aims in the conflict.
