migration
Frontex: Much fewer unauthorized border crossings in the EU in 2024
The border protection agency is observing a sharp decline in attempted irregular entries into the EU. Fewer migrants come particularly via the Western Balkan route. There’s a reason for that.
Last year, a good 239,000 people tried to enter the EU irregularly. That was 38 percent less than in 2023, as the EU border protection agency Frontex announced in Warsaw. It is also the lowest value since 2021, when migration movements were still restricted by the corona pandemic.
The Frontex annual report gives one reason for the downward trend. “Despite the ongoing migratory pressure, increased cooperation between the EU and its partners in combating smuggling networks has led to a significant reduction in border crossings at Europe’s external borders.”
Western Balkan countries active against irregular entry attempts
The number of irregular, unauthorized entries on the route via the Western Balkans has fallen particularly sharply at almost 21,520 (minus 78 percent). According to Frontex, the reason is the efforts of countries in the region to contain migration movements.
According to the information, a similar trend also occurred on the route across the central Mediterranean, i.e. from Libya and Tunisia via Sicily and Malta. Frontex officials registered 66,766 attempts here, which was 59 percent fewer than in 2023.
Strong increase on the border with Belarus
On the other hand, the number on the route via the eastern Mediterranean, i.e. from Turkey to Greece, is increasing. There were 69,436 attempts, 14 percent more than in the previous year. The trend was similar on the West African route across the Atlantic – i.e. from Morocco, Senegal and Western Sahara to the Canary Islands: 46,877 people tried this route, 18 percent more than in the previous year.
Frontex recorded the largest increase in attempted unauthorized entries at the EU’s eastern land borders, i.e. the route via Belarus to Poland and Lithuania. Around 17,001 such attempts were registered here (plus 192 percent).
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
