Cyprus and Greece lead EU in asylum applications per capita

During the presentation of the 2026 Asylum Report to the European Parliament’s LIBE Committee, EUAA Executive Director Nina Gregori announced that Cyprus and Greece recorded the highest number of international protection applications in the EU relative to their population sizes in the first half of 2026. While these two nations face the highest relative burden, France and Italy reported the highest absolute number of applications during the same period. Overall, the EU saw a 17% decrease in total asylum claims compared to the first half of 2025, a trend attributed to a decline in applications from citizens of Syria, Venezuela, and other countries.

In response to the specific pressures on Cyprus, the EUAA, in coordination with the European Commission and the Solidarity Coordinator, has established a dedicated operational support mechanism. This initiative is designed to facilitate the relocation of asylum seekers from Cyprus to other participating EU member states under the framework of the new Migration and Asylum Pact. These measures represent a targeted effort to balance the distribution of asylum applicants across the European Union.