The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union continued to fall in the first five months of 2026, with detections down by almost 40% compared with the same period last year. Nearly 39 000 crossings were recorded, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex. The decline reflects sustained cooperation with partner countries and preventive measures in key departure states, which continue to reduce the number of boats setting out towards Europe.
The figures are published as the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum comes into effect. The Pact introduces a single, standardised screening process at the EU’s external borders. Frontex officers support member states in key steps of the new process, including establishing the nationality of arrivals, collecting biometric data and verifying documents.
“From today, everyone arriving at Europe’s external borders will need to be identified, registered and screened to the same standard, wherever they are. The Pact turns 27 different ways of doing things into one, and Frontex officers are on the ground from day one to help make it work,” said Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens.
- The Central Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean were the busiest routes, each accounting for around a third of all irregular entries into the EU.
- The Western African route saw the steepest decline, with detections down by 71% compared with the same period last year.
- The Western Mediterranean was the only major route to record an increase, with detections up by 46%, driven mainly by departures from Algeria.
The overall number of irregular arrivals continues to fall, but the human cost remains high. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1 300 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean so far this year. Each of these deaths is a reminder of the risks people are pushed to take. Smuggling networks continue to send them to sea in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, whatever the conditions.
The volatile situation in the Middle East remains a source of uncertainty for the EU's migration landscape. The conflict has displaced large numbers of people, and its wider economic consequences risk reinforcing migration pressures in the region and beyond. So far, this has not translated into a significant change at the EU's external borders, but Frontex continues to monitor developments closely.
With 3 800 officers present at the EU’s external borders, Frontex continues to support national authorities in safeguarding Europe’s borders and saving lives at sea.
The Central Mediterranean was the busiest route in the first five months of the year, with around 11 600 arrivals recorded, nearly half the total from the same period last year. Detections picked up in May as conditions at sea improved, but remained well below last year’s levels. Libya was the main departure point. The main nationalities detected were Bangladeshi, Somali and Sudanese.
The Eastern Mediterranean recorded around 11 500 crossings, a fall of 28%. The corridor from Libya to Crete remained the most active on the route, ahead of arrivals in the Aegean islands and on the land borders with Türkiye.
The Western Mediterranean was the only major route to register an increase, with around 7 100 detections, up by 46% year-on-year. Algeria remained the main departure country, and the Balearic Islands were the most targeted destination. The rise reflects a shift in smuggling routes, as stricter controls in Morocco and on the neighbouring Western African and Central Mediterranean routes have pushed more departures towards Algerian shores.
The Western African route registered around 3 200 detections, the steepest decline of all routes at 71%. Preventive measures implemented by Mauritania since spring 2025, and more recently by Senegal and The Gambia in cooperation with Spain and the EU, have significantly reduced departures. However, smuggling networks remain adaptable, and activity on this route is volatile and can shift quickly as conditions change.
Attempts detected on exit towards the UK across the Channel, which include both those who reached the UK and those prevented from leaving, fell 40% to some 15 200. A new agreement between the UK and France, signed in April, is expected to further strengthen patrols along the French coast in the coming months.
* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular border crossings at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may cross the border several times in different locations at the external border.
