ISTANBUL

Irregular border crossings into the EU dropped by 52% in the first two months of 2026, with around 12,000 detections recorded, according to preliminary data released by Frontex on Thursday.

The EU border agency said severe weather conditions along key migration routes contributed significantly to the decline in new arrivals compared with the same period last year.

The Central Mediterranean route remained the busiest pathway into the EU, accounting for nearly 30% of all irregular entries, with 3,395 crossings recorded between January and February, although detections along the route fell 50% year-on-year.

The Eastern Mediterranean route registered 3,297 arrivals, also marking a 50% decline, while the Western Mediterranean route recorded 2,172 crossings, representing a 9% increase compared with the first two months of 2025.

Meanwhile, the Western African route saw the steepest drop, with detections plunging 83% to about 1,215 crossings, according to the agency’s data.

Crossings along the Western Balkan route declined 38% to 930, while detections at the EU’s eastern land borders fell 80% to 196.

Attempts to leave the EU for the UK across the English Channel, including both successful crossings and prevented departures, decreased by 12% to nearly 3,900.

According to Frontex, the most frequently recorded nationalities among migrants during the period were Afghan, Bangladeshi, and Algerian.

Despite the decline in arrivals, the human toll in the Mediterranean remains high. Data from the International Organization for Migration shows that nearly 660 people died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean in the first two months of 2026, many of them during periods of severe weather.

Frontex warned that criminal smuggling networks continue to send migrants on unsafe vessels, exposing them to significant risks at sea.

The agency also noted that rising tensions in the Middle East could increase displacement in the coming months, though the situation has not yet significantly affected migration flows toward the EU’s external borders.

Frontex said it currently has more than 3,000 officers deployed along the EU’s external frontiers, supporting national authorities in border management operations and search-and-rescue efforts.