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Migratory pressure in the Central Mediterranean region remained high in June, with the number of migrants arriving in Italy last month increasing by 24% from the previous month to some 22 500. The total for the first half of this year reached around 69 500, close to the figure from a year ago.

Nigerians represented 17% of all of the migrants detected on the Central Mediterranean route, accounting for the highest share of all detections, followed by nationals of Eritrea and Sudan.

The number of migrants on the Eastern Mediterranean route in June, mainly arriving in Greece, remained well below the monthly figures from earlier this year and reached some 1450. This represented a 95% drop from the same month of 2015.

The fall is a result of several factors, including the EU-Turkey statement and stricter border policies applied by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at its border with Greece. Syrians continued to account for the largest share of arrivals in Greece, ahead of Pakistanis, Afghans and Iraqis. The Greek islands in the eastern Aegean also saw the arrival of many migrants from Africa, bringing the total number of nationalities to 38.

In the Western Balkans, the number of migrants detected crossing the EU’s external borders last month stood at close to 3 500, slightly higher than in May. Afghan nationals accounted for almost half of the detections.

Note:

The data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of illegal border-crossing at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may attempt to cross the border irregularly several times in different locations at the external border.