In the first half of 2018, the total number of irregular border crossings into the EU nearly halved from a year ago to about 60 430, mainly because of lower migratory pressure on the Central Mediterranean route.
In June, some 13 100 irregular crossings were detected on the main migratory routes into the EU, 56% fewer than in the same month of last year.
Western Mediterranean
Last month, the Western Mediterranean
for the first time became the most active migratory route into Europe.
The number of migrants reaching Spain jumped 166% from a year ago to
nearly 6 400 in June. In the first half of 2018, there were some 14 700
irregular border crossings on the Western Mediterranean route, almost
double the figure from a year ago.
Nationals of Morocco, Guinea and Mali accounted for the highest number of arrivals in Spain this year.
Eastern Mediterranean
In
June, the number of irregular migrants taking the Eastern Mediterranean
route stood at some 3 600, nearly a third fewer than in the previous
month. But because of a significant increase of irregular crossings in
recent months on the land borders with Turkey, the total number of
migrants detected on the Eastern Mediterranean route in the first six
months of the year stood at around 24 300.
The largest number of migrants on this route in the first half of the year were nationals of Syria and Iraq.
Central Mediterranean
The
number of migrants arriving in Italy via the Central Mediterranean
route in June fell to about 3 000, down 87% from June 2017. The total
number of migrants detected on this route in the first half of 2018 fell
to roughly 16 100, down 81% from a year ago.
So far this year,
Tunisians and Eritreans were the two most represented nationalities on
this route, together accounting for more than a third of all the
detected migrants there.
Western Balkans
The main migratory
route in the Western Balkans from Serbia to Hungary and Croatia
continues to see low numbers of irregular migrants. However, a parallel
route via Albania, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as
from Serbia to Bosnia Herzegovina, has seen increased migratory
pressure.
Note: The 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 attempt to cross the
border several times in different locations at the external border.