Irregular entry into the EU fell by 35% in the first eight months of the year

ANDthe European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) reported that in the first eight months of the year there were around 75,000 detections of irregular entry into the European Union (EU), less 35% than in 2025.

The Agency notes that there has been a decrease in “practically all major migration routes”, with the exception of one: the Western Mediterranean, which covers southern Spain.

Although these figures released by Frontex today do not include the entry of thousands of migrants in Ceuta on 30 and 31 July – at least 72,000, according to the Spanish Government – the agency indicates that in the Western Mediterranean there was a 34% increase, with 15,909 entry detections.

On this route, “Algeria was the main starting point, with the Balearic Islands and Spanish mainland territory being the main destinations,” Frontex said.

“ The pressure increased significantly in July, when the route reached the highest monthly value in the last three years, before falling again in August,” says the agency, which adds that the increase in irregular entries in this region shows a “change in routes used by traffickers.”.

“The strengthening of controls in Morocco and the neighbouring routes of West Africa and the Central Mediterranean has led to more departures targeting Algerian coasts,” Frontex explains.

On all other migration routes analysed by Frontex, there was a significant decrease compared to 2025.

The main gateway to the EU remains the Eastern Mediterranean, which covers the coast of Greece, with 24,239 entries detected, a 25% decrease from 2025.

The largest fall occurred on the West African route to the Canary Islands, with 5,070 detections, 58% less than in 2025.

The same was true in the Central Mediterranean, which covers southern Italy, where 19.411 entries were detected, less 55% than in 2025.

Frontex points out that Libya is the starting point on this route for around two thirds of migrants, although it notes that “supervisory operations, detection campaigns” and “returns” by the authorities of the country have helped to reduce numbers.

In the statement, Frontex states that, although there is a reduction in the number of irregular entries in the EU, “the human cost” of such crossings “continues to be high”.

“ According to the International Organization for Migration, over 1,800 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year. Each of the deaths is a sign of the risks that people are put at risk,” stresses the agency, which stresses that migrant trafficking networks use “overcrowded vessels with no conditions of navigability”.

Cited in the statement, Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens said that fewer and fewer people are trying to enter Europe, but the Ceuta crisis showed that “a quiet border can change in just a few hours.”.

“ Traffic networks do not disappear because the numbers fall. They adapt and wait for a breach they can exploit. Our role is to be prepared when they find it ", says.

The agency explains that it chose not to count the numbers of migrants entering Ceuta in July because “it is unlikely” that a “final total” of the number of people entering the enclave will be established, as the “majority returned to Morocco without registration”.