The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union fell significantly in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to new EU data seen by dpa.
A total of around 47,000 irregular crossings were recorded from January to April, down nearly 30%. The most significant drop occurred along the Western Balkan route, where authorities registered about 3,100 cases – a 58% decline.
On the central Mediterranean route from North Africa towards Italy, irregular entries dropped by 3% to around 15,700. The eastern Mediterranean route to Greece recorded a 30% fall to about 12,200.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the figures show that the bloc’s coordinated approach is working, adding that curbing the business of smugglers remained a key objective. Estimates suggest that traffickers charge fees that can reach five-figure sums for organizing the journey.
Most of the people who recently arrived in the EU came from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Mali.
The statistics were compiled by the EU border protection agency Frontex, which currently has around 3,200 officers deployed at the EU’s external borders, according to its own information.
The latest data could pose a challenge for the new German government, which has justified its increased border checks by pointing to insufficient progress on EU migration reform.
In the visa-free Schengen area, internal border checks are generally discouraged to maintain free movement across the bloc, with controls intended to take place only at the EU’s external borders.
Source: GNA
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