Irregular migrants crossing European Union's borders fall by 27%

ATHENS

The number of irregular migrants crossing the European Union's borders fell by 27% in the first four months of 2025, to nearly 47,000, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, or Frontex, said on Wednesday.

"Declines continue on all major migratory routes into the EU, ranging from 58% on the Western Balkans route to 3% on the Central Mediterranean route," according to a statement from Frontex.

Frontex has currently deployed 3,200 officers along the EU's external borders, working with national authorities to safeguard Europe's borders and save lives at sea, it added.

While declines continued on all major migration routes into the EU, the Central Mediterranean route became the busiest, accounting for one-third of all irregular migrants arriving in the bloc.

During the same period, the Eastern Mediterranean was the second most popular route of entry, with over 12,200 undocumented migrants crossing.

Meanwhile, the Western Balkans saw the greatest drop in arrivals from January to April, by 58%, followed by the Western Africa route, which fell 34%.

ATHENS

"Declines continue on all major migratory routes into the EU, ranging from 58% on the Western Balkans route to 3% on the Central Mediterranean route," according to a statement from Frontex.

Frontex has currently deployed 3,200 officers along the EU's external borders, working with national authorities to safeguard Europe's borders and save lives at sea, it added.

While declines continued on all major migration routes into the EU, the Central Mediterranean route became the busiest, accounting for one-third of all irregular migrants arriving in the bloc.

During the same period, the Eastern Mediterranean was the second most popular route of entry, with over 12,200 undocumented migrants crossing.

Meanwhile, the Western Balkans saw the greatest drop in arrivals from January to April, by 58%, followed by the Western Africa route, which fell 34%.