Brussels – In the first three months of 2024, there was a decline in irregular entries into the European Union. According to Frontex, European Border and Coast Guard Agency, the number of people immigrating irregularly dropped by 12 percent. The sharpest slowdowns are on the Central Mediterranean and the Eastern Balkans routes.
The Central Mediterranean was the only major sea route to record a decline in detections of irregular crossings (-59 percent). The West African and East Mediterranean routes recorded significant increases (+510 percent and +109 percent, respectively). The Central Mediterranean route, which recorded the highest number of irregular crossings in 2023, continued to show a downward trend compared with recent months.
In the first quarter, the Eastern Mediterranean overtook the West African route to become the most active for migrants arriving irregularly in the EU. That number more than doubled to just over 13,700 people. At the same time, the West African route continued with record numbers. Between January and March, arrivals exceeded 13,500 people. It is the highest total for the first three months of the year since Frontex began collecting data in 2011.
Frontex highlighted how, in recent months, criminal groups from Mauritania have been particularly active. These exploit the demands of people from sub-Saharan states to enter the European Union through the Canary Islands. Human traffickers are cramming increasing numbers of migrants onto cayuco boats (primitive wooden boats), putting the lives of the people on board in grave danger.
Frontex’s report shows that the top three nationalities by number on all routes in the first quarter are Syrians, Malians, and Afghans. The agency also pointed out that sea crossings continue to be extremely dangerous for people who engage in irregular migration. Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicate that 476 people have been reported missing in the Mediterranean so far this year. The vast majority of them were sailing along the dangerous Central Mediterranean route.
The numbers of those migrating to the UK are also on the rise. The Channel Route marked a 56 percent increase to 11,635 people in the first three months of the year, despite the often hostile weather conditions that endanger the lives of people trying to reach British shores.
