Illegal border crossings into the European Union have dropped by 20% this year, but Frontex says smuggling networks are “increasingly using alternative routes” as pressure shifts to Italy and the Western Mediterranean.
Frontex is the European Union’s border and coast guard agency responsible for managing and securing the EU’s external borders.
In a press release issued this week, the EU’s border agency confirmed that 75,900 irregular entries were recorded between January and June, citing “significant drops in the Eastern Mediterranean and West African routes.”
“Despite enforcement efforts the route is still seen as viable by smuggling groups that remain active and adapt quickly, without much care about the safety of the migrants,” the agency said.
The largest fall was observed on the Western Balkans route, where detections dropped by 53%, followed by a 50% decrease on the Eastern Land Borders and a 41% decrease on the Western African route. Eastern Mediterranean entries also declined by nearly 25%.
However, Frontex noted that the Libya-Crete corridor has now become the main point of entry in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“New migration corridors continue to emerge,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, crossings on the Central Mediterranean route rose to more than 29,300—a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. This accounted for 39% of all irregular EU entries, making it the busiest route overall.
“Libya continues to be the main country of departure for these dangerous journeys,” Frontex stated.
“Some 20,800 migrants arrived in Italy, reflecting an 80% surge from last year.”
Arrivals on the Western Mediterranean route also increased by 19% compared to 2024. In June alone, the number of arrivals more than doubled year-on-year.
Frontex said Algeria remains the most common country of departure on that route, “with roughly 80% increase from 2024.”
“These figures indicate that smuggling networks are adapting their activities,” the agency added.
Nonetheless, “This downward trend is largely due to stronger prevention efforts by departure countries working in close cooperation with EU Member States,” Frontex said.
The most frequently reported nationalities of migrants were Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Afghan.
Behind the numbers, the agency warned, are real human costs. According to estimates by the International Organization for Migration, at least 760 people died attempting to cross the Mediterranean in the first six months of this year.
The report also highlighted a 23% rise in attempted crossings on the Channel route to the UK, with 33,200 attempts recorded. Factors cited included better weather, growing use of “taxi boats” that evade detection, and more people crammed onto individual vessels.
Frontex currently deploys 3,000 officers alongside national border guards across the EU and says it is “committed to protecting its borders and saving lives at sea.”
The figures come after last year’s EU elections saw voters in multiple countries shift to the Right politically. Political parties in countries like France, Germany and Austria have responded to rising public unease about immigration by calling for tighter border controls and stricter asylum policies.
In May of last year the bloc adopted the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which aims to overhaul the European asylum system and speed up the processing of illegal immigrants, among other things. It will come into force in June 2026.