Frontex, the European Union’s agency responsible for external border protection, has reported a significant decrease in illegal migrant crossings during the first quarter of 2025. Compared to the same period in the previous year, crossings have dropped by 31%, reaching approximately 33,600. This decline has been observed across all routes leading to Europe.
The most notable reduction occurred along the Western Balkan route, which experienced a 64% decrease in crossings. Several factors may have contributed to this decline, including enhanced border enforcement by Balkan nations, challenging winter conditions, and increased awareness of the risks associated with human rights violations. Additionally, geopolitical shifts, such as changes in the Syrian regime, have influenced migration patterns, resulting in a 17% decrease in asylum applications in 2024. However, there is an expectation that arrivals may increase again by late summer and autumn.
Significant reductions in crossings have been recorded on other routes as well. The Western African route, which links Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, and Western Sahara to Spain’s Canary Islands, saw a 30% decrease. The Eastern Mediterranean route, primarily leading to Cyprus, Greece, and Bulgaria from countries like Afghanistan, Sudan, and Egypt, experienced a 29% drop. Meanwhile, the Central Mediterranean route, which traverses from western and central Africa through Niger and Libya towards Italy, saw a fall of 26%.
Despite these decreases, the Eastern Mediterranean route remains the busiest for illegal migration into Europe, with 9,267 crossing attempts. The Western African route follows closely with 9,205 attempts, mainly from Mali, Senegal, and Guinea. The Central Mediterranean route ranks third, with 8,542 attempts, largely by migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Syria.
The United Kingdom continues to be a primary destination for many migrants, as evidenced by Frontex’s report of 11,000 illegal crossing attempts in the first four months of 2025 from France across the Channel.
