In 2024, the number of illegal border crossings into the EU dropped to 239,000—the lowest level in three years, marking a 38% decrease compared to 2023, according to Frontex.
This decline is attributed to strengthened controls along the Central Mediterranean and Western Balkan routes, where migration flows decreased by 59% and 78%, respectively, due to the EU’s cooperation with Tunisia, Libya, and Balkan countries.
However, the number of migrants arriving on the Canary Islands increased by 18%, and crossings at the EU’s eastern land borders nearly tripled. Brussels accuses Minsk of using migration to destabilize the EU.
Experts note that heightened control measures do not eliminate migration but merely shift its routes and increase risks for migrants. In 2024, more than 2,300 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean. Moreover, official statistics do not always account for all border crossings and fail to distinguish between economic migrants and asylum seekers.
