According to EU's border agency Frontex, irregular migration into the EU has significantly declined, with detected irregular crossings dropping by 42 percent to 166,000 in the first nine months of 2024, compared to the previous year. This reduction is notable as it aligns with the rise of populist and nationalist political parties pushing for stricter immigration policies across Europe.
Frontex reported that nearly 17,000 individuals crossed into the EU through the Western Balkans, marking a staggering 79 percent decrease year-on-year, and that around 47,700 entered via the Central Mediterranean route, reflecting a significant 64 percent drop. These trends indicate a considerable slowdown in asylum seeker crossings on these major migration routes.
Interestingly, while irregular crossings through major routes declined, border crossings via the Western African route doubled to over 30,600 entries in the same period. The EU's eastern land borders saw particularly sharp increases, with nearly 13,200 crossings detected in Poland, representing a dramatic 192 percent rise compared to the previous year.
The drop in irregular migration coincides with the growing influence of populist and nationalist parties in Europe, which gained traction during the recent EU elections. Driven by this political climate, many EU nations have begun implementing tougher immigration policies, exemplified by Italy's recent decision to transfer migrants outside the EU while their claims are processed.
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