Migrant Arrivals via Central Mediterranean Drop Significantly – Frontex

Rome: EU border agency Frontex reported a significant decrease in illegal border crossings via the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy, noting a 59% reduction in 2024 to 67,000. This decline is attributed to fewer departures from Tunisia and Libya.

According to Ansa News Agency, the agency highlighted that this reduction, along with a 78% decrease in detections on the Western Balkan route, contributed to an overall 38% decrease in irregular border crossings into the EU. The total number of crossings last year was recorded at 239,000, marking the lowest level since 2021, a period when migration was still influenced by the COVID pandemic.

Frontex additionally stated that despite the decline, the Central Mediterranean route remains the second highest in terms of crossings, surpassed only by the Eastern Mediterranean route.