Frontex Reports Dramatic Drop in Illegal Border Crossings
According to a recent report from the EU border agency Frontex, there has been a remarkable decline in illegal border crossings at the European Union's external borders during the first eight months of the current year. The agency recorded over 74,000 unauthorized entries, marking a substantial decrease of 35% compared to the same period last year. Frontex, headquartered in Warsaw, attributes this decline to ongoing collaboration with partner countries and preventive measures implemented in the primary countries of origin for migrants.
Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Migration, commented on this positive trend, stating, “The European migration turnaround is effective – the numbers speak for themselves. Illegal border crossings have been consistently declining for 14 months.” He emphasized the need for the EU to continue strengthening its external borders and to solidify the progress achieved thus far.
Challenges Remain Despite Decreasing Numbers
However, Frontex acknowledged in its report that the statistics do not reflect the large-scale migration movement from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta that occurred at the end of July. The agency noted that determining a final tally of this incident is likely impossible, as many migrants returned to Morocco before they could be registered. The Spanish government reported that around 80,000 individuals temporarily reached the enclave, while Morocco cited the number at approximately 40,000. Tragically, 83 individuals lost their lives while attempting to reach Ceuta, sparking a debate over the EU's external border protection and Spain's responsibilities in this context.
Sources within Frontex indicated that while the situation at the EU's external borders was generally calm throughout the summer, the events in Ceuta highlighted how quickly a quiet border situation can change. Smuggling networks are unlikely to disappear simply because the numbers have decreased; rather, human traffickers are poised to seize the next opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. It is crucial that Frontex remains vigilant and prepared during these critical moments.
According to Frontex data, the primary migration routes continue to be across the Mediterranean Sea, where migrants attempt to cross by boat. The route from Turkey to Greece via the eastern Mediterranean, along with the central Mediterranean route from Libya and Tunisia to Italy and Malta, accounted for nearly 60% of all registered irregular entries. While there has been a notable decrease along both routes, the agency has reported a 34% increase in migration along the western Mediterranean route to Spain.
As reported by radiorst.de.
