EU Q1 irregular border crossings drop by one-third

Brussels – After the general 40 percent drop in irregular arrivals in the Union in the first eleven months of 2024, irregular border crossings continue to decline. Preliminary data released by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, show that arrivals in the first quarter of 2025 fell by 31 percent (33 thousand), with the Western Balkan route experiencing the most significant decline (minus 64 percent).

In March alone, the number of arrivals from the Central Mediterranean (about 8500) decreased by three-quarters compared to the previous year. The EU agency explains that poor weather conditions were among the factors behind this decline.

The Eastern Mediterranean and West Africa were the busiest routes for irregular migration this year, with 9630 and 9200 arrivals between January and March. On the Channel​ route, the number of migrants attempting to reach the UK decreased by 4 percent from last year, with slightly more than 11200 detections. According to Frontex, the main nationalities of irregular migrants this year have been Afghans, Malians, and Bengalis.

“For border protection to work, we need to strengthen our cooperation with third countries. Preventing dangerous travel means saving lives. That is precisely the goal of our agreements with third countries. And they are having an effect,” European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner said on X. There are, in fact, still many who lose their lives trying to reach the EU. As the World Organization for Migration reports, 385 migrants died in the Mediterranean between January and March 2025. In all of 2024, there were more than 11,000 deaths.

For border protection to work, we need to strengthen our cooperation with third countries. Preventing dangerous journeys means saving lives.

That is exactly what our agreements with third countries aim to achieve. And they are having an effect. In the first quarter of 2025, the… commentato

– Magnus Brunner (@magnusbrunner) https://t.co/VK7sC0gWWW