Eurostat reports decline in asylum applications for December 2025

Eurostat data for December 2025 indicates that Cyprus received 130 first-time asylum applications and 95 repeat claims. This marks a decrease from November 2025, which saw 165 first-time and 105 repeat applications, and a significant drop from December 2024, when there were 230 first-time and 40 repeat filings. Across the European Union, total international protection applications reached 47,650 in December 2025, representing a 23% year-on-year decline. EU-wide, the largest groups of first-time applicants were from Venezuela, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Syria, with Italy, Spain, France, and Germany accounting for 72% of all claims. Eurostat attributed these shifts to evolving migration patterns and regional developments. In Cyprus, these trends coincide with recent judicial decisions enabling the expedited deportation of Syrian nationals whose asylum appeals have been rejected. The government remains focused on accelerating the deportation process for unsuccessful applicants.