Frontex Reports 29% Decrease in Irregular EU Border Crossings in First Ten Months of 2026
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has reported a significant 29% decrease in irregular border crossings into the European Union during the first ten months of 2026 compared to the same period in the previous year. Approximately 110,000 crossings were detected, according to preliminary data. This decline is attributed to sustained cooperation with partner countries and preventive measures in key departure states, which have reduced the number of boats attempting to reach Europe. While most major migratory routes saw a decrease, the Western African route to the Canary Islands experienced a sharp rise in October, with detections four times higher than a year earlier. The Eastern Mediterranean and Central Mediterranean routes remain the busiest, accounting for nearly 60% of all irregular entries, though the Central Mediterranean saw the steepest decline of 55%.
