Irregular Border Crossings Decline as EU Immigration Policy Stiffens

Detected irregular migration into the European Union fell by 42 percent to 166,000 in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period last year.

The statistics suggesting a reduced flow in migration, released by the EU border agency Frontex on Tuesday, comes as the EU and several member states adopt harsher immigration stances amid pressure from the extreme right, which made significant headway in EU elections in the summer.

The EU experienced a significant decline in asylum seeker crossings on two major migration routes—the Central Mediterranean and the Western Balkans—in January-September, according to Frontex.

The agency said nearly 17,000 individuals entered the EU through the Western Balkans, a 79 percent decrease year-on-year. Around 47,700 crossed the bloc’s border via the Central Mediterranean route, representing a 64 percent drop.

In contrast, border crossings via the Western African route doubled, with over 30,600 entries recorded in the year’s first nine months.

The sharpest increase was recorded at the EU’s eastern land borders, particularly in Poland, where nearly 13,200 crossings were detected, representing a 192 percent rise.

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The drop in irregular migration comes as populist and nationalist political parties have gained ground across much of Europe, as demonstrated by their strong showings in EU elections over the summer.

That is pushing many EU states to implement harsher policies.

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Also on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to tighten legislation to boost the removal of those who fail to secure the right to stay in the EU.

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