European Union Accepts Hundreds of Thousands of Refugees Despite Pushing Anti-Migrant Policy

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Kevin Bückert

JAKARTA - Eurostat statistical data recorded nearly 670,000 new asylum applications in 2025 and granted more than 683,000 new temporary protection status to Ukrainian citizens.

The figure released on Friday (19/6) was recorded despite ongoing talks on tightening migration policies and eradicating illegal migration.

"In 2025, the European Union recorded 669,710 asylum applications for the first time," Eurostat said in a statement published in the context of World Refugee Day on June 20.

In addition, EU countries also issued 325,955 first-instance positive decisions on asylum applications and 49,025 other positive decisions after appeals and reviews.

"In 2025, the European Union also granted new temporary protection status to 683,475 people displaced from Ukraine," the statement continued.

Thus, the number of temporary protection status granted by the European Union to Ukrainian citizens in 2025 is more than the number of new asylum applications filed by all other citizens.

The highest number of temporary protection status for Ukrainians was recorded in 2022 after the launch of the EU-related mechanism.

Venezuelans will for the first time be the largest new group of asylum seekers in the EU in 2025, with a number reaching 13.4 percent of the total number of asylum seekers in the EU or the equivalent of 89,455 applications, according to Eurostat.

Afghan nationals were the second largest group with 63,900 applications, while Syrian nationals were in third place with 40,405 applications.

According to the statistical data, the highest number of asylum applications was recorded in 2015, namely 1,216,860 applications.

Meanwhile, a temporary protection mechanism was activated in February 2022, providing Ukrainians with access to obtaining residence permits, employment, health care, and education throughout the EU.

The mechanism is planned to remain in place until March 2027.