According to the European Union's border agency Frontex, the total number of irregular border crossings into the EU decreased by nearly 40 percent in 2024, marking the lowest level since 2021. This decline is attributed to enhanced cooperation among EU member states and partner nations aimed at combating smuggling networks.
Despite the overall drop, the EU's eastern borders experienced a notable increase in irregular crossings, with entries from Belarus and Russia surging by 192 percent to approximately 17,000. This rise has prompted accusations from EU states that these countries are intentionally facilitating migration to destabilize the region.
On the Western Balkans route, irregular crossings plummeted by 78 percent, credited to significant efforts by regional countries to control the flow of migrants. Additionally, crossings via the Central Mediterranean fell by 59 percent due to decreased departures from Tunisia and Libya, although this route still accounted for about 67,000 crossings.
The Eastern Mediterranean route saw a 14 percent increase in irregular border crossing attempts, primarily driven by new migration corridors from eastern Libya, with many migrants originating from Syria, Afghanistan, and Egypt. The Western African route to the Canary Islands also witnessed an 18 percent rise, with nearly 47,000 arrivals attributed to departures from Mauritania.
Frontex's director, Hans Leijtens, emphasized that while 2024 showed a significant reduction in irregular crossings, it also underscored the emergence of new risks and shifting migration dynamics, necessitating ongoing adaptability from border authorities across Europe.