Brussels – The European Union has reported a notable reduction in irregular border crossings during the first four months of this year, with a decrease of nearly 30% compared to the same timeframe last year.
According to new data released to the German Press Agency, the total number of crossings has dropped to approximately 47,000. The largest decline occurred on the Western Balkan route, which saw only about 3,100 crossings, a staggering 58% decrease.
Other major routes also experienced decreases. The central Mediterranean route, which runs from North Africa to Italy, saw a 3% drop, with around 15,700 irregular crossings. On the eastern Mediterranean route to Greece, numbers fell by 30%, totaling around 12,200. Meanwhile, the route to the Spanish mainland accounted for approximately 3,500 arrivals by sea, a 10% reduction, while around 10,400 people arrived in the Canary Islands, marking a 34% decline.
EU Commissioner Brunner: Effective Measures Against Irregular Migration
EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner views these developments as indicative of the success of the EU’s collective policies. “This demonstrates the effectiveness of our measures, particularly our enhanced collaboration with partner countries outside the EU,” stated the Austrian official. Together with EU member states, efforts continue to further reduce irregular migration.
Brunner also emphasized the need to combat human smuggling, which is estimated to involve five-figure sums for organizing treks. Recently, many arrivals were reported from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Mali.
Frontex Data Complicates German Government’s Position
The latest figures were collected by the EU border agency Frontex, which reports having 3,200 officers stationed at the EU’s external borders. These officers collaborate with national authorities and monitor maritime areas where migrants are at risk. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 555 individuals lost their lives at sea in the first four months of this year alone.
These recent statistics could pose a challenge for the new German federal government, as they may undermine the argument for heightened border controls, which have been justified by insufficient advancements in EU migration policy. Ideally, only the external borders of the EU should be monitored within the Schengen Area to facilitate free movement without extensive checks.
Furthermore, Frontex’s data indicates that not all refugees arriving in the EU intend to remain permanently. In the initial four months of the year, around 18,100 irregular border crossings or attempts towards Great Britain were recorded, representing a 5% increase from the previous year. (May 14)
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