EU asylum applications down but Iran concerns mountBRUSSELSAsylum applications to the EU dropped by almost 20 percent in 2025, the bloc's asylum agency said on Tuesday, warning however that a crisis in Iran could result in refugee movements of "unprecedented magnitude." The country is home to about 2.5 million refugees, mainly Afghan nationals, according to the UN refugee agency. The 27-nation bloc plus Switzerland and Norway (EU+) received around 822,000 asylum applications in 2025, down 19 percent on the previous year. The country is home to about 2.5 million refugees, mainly Afghan nationals, according to the UN refugee agency. The 27-nation bloc plus Switzerland and Norway (EU+) received around 822,000 asylum applications in 2025, down 19 percent on the previous year.

Source: Ethiopian News March 03, 2026 11:46 UTC