Despite a formal decrease in primary asylum applications, the European migration system remains in a state of deep crisis. Native residents of the Old World continue to face growing pressure on social services, security, and cultural identity. Eurostat data for February 2026, published today, clearly shows where the root of the problem lies.
According to the report, in February 2026, 46,420 citizens of third countries submitted their first applications for international protection in the EU. This is 21% less than in February 2025, yet the overall picture remains extremely tense. At the same time, the number of repeated applications grew — 9,080 (+12% compared to February last year). As of the end of February, 1.20 million applications were still pending — a gigantic backlog that places a heavy burden on taxpayers’ budgets.
Main Problems for Native Europeans
Culturally Incompatible Migration The largest group of asylum seekers in February were Venezuelans (6,835 people). However, they were closely followed by migrants from regions where integration traditionally fails: Afghans (4,325), Bangladeshis (3,450), and Egyptians (1,815). These flows create the greatest tension in European cities. Native residents are increasingly encountering the formation of parallel societies, rising crime, and open disregard for local norms and values.
Unaccompanied Minors — The Sharpest and Most Cynical Part of the Crisis In February 2026, 1,015 unaccompanied minors submitted asylum applications. The leaders were migrants from Somalia (215), Venezuela (165), Afghanistan (105), Egypt (80), and Guinea (55). The most applications were received by Germany (255), Spain (190), the Netherlands and France (130 each).
This category causes particular irritation among Europeans. Many of these “children” quickly disappear from care services, fall into criminal networks, or are used to facilitate status for adult relatives. Europeans rightly see this not as a humanitarian tragedy, but as abuse of the system.
Overwhelming Burden on Individual Countries 77% of all primary applications fell on just four countries: Italy (10,560), Spain (10,410), France (7,900), and Germany (6,985). Greece leads in applications per capita (34.3 per 100,000 inhabitants). Native residents of these countries feel most acutely the housing shortage, overload of schools and hospitals, and rising street crime.
A System That Doesn’t Work Despite all the talk of “reforms” and “border control,” the number of pending cases has barely decreased (1.20 million vs 1.25 million a year ago). Deportations remain extremely low, while repeated applications are growing. This means European taxpayers continue to support hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have weak or clearly dubious grounds for staying.
The Root of the Evil The real problem lies in the systemic nature of the process. Europe continues to accept flows of people from culturally and civilizationally distant regions without the political will or mechanisms for real integration or repatriation. The result is growing social tension, erosion of trust in institutions, and an increasingly obvious alienation of the native population from its own political elite.
Eurostat data for February 2026 confirms that the migration crisis is not behind us. It has simply taken the form of a chronic, slowly deepening disease, the main victim of which is ordinary Europeans — those who pay taxes, raise children, and want to live in a safe and familiar country.
