Irregular migrants, Central Mediterranean remains the most active route. West African route sees sharp increase

Brussels – Since the start of 2024, there has been a significant decrease in irregular migrant arrivals due to the cold seasons with adverse weather and a policy that forced an acceleration on repatriation and agreements with third countries. According to preliminary data released by Frontex, the EU’s Coast Guard and Border Guard Agency, in January-July 2024, irregular border crossings decreased by 36 percent compared with the same period of  2023, which translates in absolute terms to 113.400 fewer people who attempted to enter EU soil outside the channels provided by the rules.

The most significant declines in irregular border crossings were on the Western Balkan and Central Mediterranean routes — 75 percent and 64 percent, respectively — in the period.

The Central Mediterranean route, which involves Italy, experienced a “significant” downward trend in recent months. In January-July, this migration route saw a 64 percent drop in crossings to 32,200. However, Frontex notes, “the Central Mediterranean remains the most active migrant route to the EU.” This year’s decrease can be attributed mainly to preventive measures by the Tunisian and Libyan authorities to disrupt the activities of traffickers, according to the agency. Arrivals from those two countries account for 95 percent of all migrants reported on the central Mediterranean route.

The number of detections on the Western Balkans route also continued to decline “significantly” during the January-July period and dropped as much as 75 percent to just over 12,400. Meanwhile, the West African route continued to record unprecedented detection numbers, with total irregular migrants arriving in the Canary Islands in the first seven months increasing by 154% year-on-year to over 21,600.