In the first 11 months of 2024,
irregular border crossings into the European Union dropped by 40%, to 220 700,
according to preliminary data collected by Frontex*. This significant decline
was mainly driven by sharp drops on the Western Balkan (-80%) and the Central
Mediterranean migratory routes (-60%).
Meanwhile, the Western African
route has already surpassed the total number of irregular arrivals in all of
last year, putting the total for 2024 at the highest level since Frontex began
to collect data in 2009.
With more than 2 700 officers and
staff deployed at the EU’s external borders, Frontex plays a vital role in
assisting national authorities in managing and safeguarding Europe’s external
borders.
Key highlights for the first 11
months of 2024:
- Western
African route with all-time high this year
- Western
Balkans route demonstrated a significant decline of 80%.
- Eastern Land
Border saw increases in irregular border crossings of 200%.
- The top
nationalities of irregular migrants this year are Syria, Afghanistan, and Mali.
The Central Mediterranean
route maintained its sharp downward trend this year, with the number of
arrivals in January-November falling to 62 000.
This year’s decrease is mainly a
result of preventive measures by the Tunisian and Libyan authorities to disrupt
the activities of smugglers. Departures from these countries represent 92% reported
arrivals on the Central Mediterranean route.
Meanwhile, other regions are
witnessing shifts in migratory patterns, with some routes facing growing
pressure.
The Western African route
recorded 41 800 crossings in the first 11 months of 2024, already the highest
annual total since at least 2009 when Frontex began to collect the data. In November,
this was also the busiest migratory route in Europe, with almost 7 600 arrivals.
The
deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the West Africa regions
contributing to increased migratory pressure.
Criminal networks, long
exploiting this route, are now intensifying their operations, sending even more
people on overcrowded Cayuco boats for the perilous and lengthy journey to the
Canary Islands, a dangerous crossing that has tragically grown more frequent.
The Eastern Mediterranean
route has also seen a steady rise, with 18% increase bringing the total to 64
000 in the first eleven months of the year.
The treacherous journeys
orchestrated by ruthless smugglers continue to claim a devastating toll in the
Mediterranean, with over 2 000 lives lost at sea this year alone, according to
IOM estimates.
The Eastern Land Borders recorded
the highest increase of 200% to 16 530 arrivals this year.
A vast majority of the people
detected on this route were Ukrainian men of military age.
The number of detections on the Channel
route between January and November increased by 6% to reach 62 124.
* Note: The preliminary data
presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular
border crossing at the external borders of the European Union. The same person
may cross the border several times in different locations at the external
border.
