Irregular migrant flow to Europe jumps 30% in January-April

GENEVA

Nearly 80,700 irregular border crossings were detected at EU external borders in the first four months of the year, up nearly 30% from the same period last year, according to the Frontex border agency.

The preliminary calculations showed that the figure was the highest for the January-April period since 2016, a Frontex statement said on Monday.

Even though entries on all other major routes decreased compared to last year, the number of irregular border crossings into the EU through the Central Mediterranean route quadrupled from the same period a year earlier, reaching the highest level since Frontex started collecting data in 2009, it said.

"Detections reported by national authorities on the Central Mediterranean route increased to almost 42,200 in January-April 2023," the agency said.

It added that there were 25,200 detections of unauthorized border crossings in April alone, up 25% from the previous year.

"Criminal smuggling groups are increasingly using makeshift metal boats hastily assembled within hours of departure. Oftentimes fishing boats tow these metal boats closer to the Italian island of Lampedusa, their main destination," the agency added.

It said the number of people entering the EU through the top seven other migration routes saw declines ranging from 7% to 47%.