The EU border agency Frontex reported on Tuesday that illegal border crossings via the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Europe dropped by 59% in 2024, reaching 67,000.
Frontex noted that the drop, along with a 78% reduction in detections on the Western Balkan route, contributed to a 38% overall decline in irregular border crossings into the EU, which fell to 239,000 last year. This marked the lowest level since 2021, when migration was still impacted by the COVID pandemic. Frontex attributed the decrease in the Central mediterranean route to fewer departures from Tunisia and Libya.
Not all routes saw the same trends, as patterns shifted across the continent. Key developments include:
- Central Mediterranean route: Crossings dropped by 59% due to fewer departures from Tunisia and Libya. Despite the significant decrease, this route still accounted for about 67,000 crossings, the second highest among all routes.
- Western Balkan route: A sharp 78% fall followed strong efforts by regional countries to stem the flow.
- Eastern Mediterranean route: Detections rose by 14% to 69 400, driven by new corridors from eastern Libya, with migrants predominantly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Egypt.
- Western African route: The Canary Islands saw an 18% increase in arrivals to almost 47 000, the highest figure since Frontex began collecting data in 2009. This was fuelled by departures from Mauritania, even as flows from other departure points declined.
- Eastern Borders route: A threefold increase in crossings was reported, mostly along the borders with Ukraine and Belarus.
- English Channel: Detections of attempted crossings to the UK rose slightly, up 9% compared to 2023.
Source: Frontex
Despite the decline, the Central Mediterranean route recorded the second-highest number of crossings among all routes, following the Eastern Mediterranean.
Meloni credits drop due to Italy’s efforts
Premier Giorgia Meloni credited the drop in irregular migration to Italy’s efforts.
“Frontex informs us that irregular migrant entries in the EU in 2024 have fallen to the lowest level since 2021,” Meloni reportedly told a cabinet meeting. “The reduction is mainly due to the drastic drop in entries on the Central Mediterranean route, thanks to fewer departures from Tunisia and Libya.”
Meloni added that this achievement is the result of Italy’s actions and the government’s efforts in recent years, which have produced excellent results.
