The number of illegal border crossings at Europe’s external
borders fell by 21% in the first 10 months of this year to 87 500*, largely
because of a drop in arrivals in Eastern and Western Mediterranean, according
to preliminary calculations.
In October, the number of illegal border crossings was 19%
lower than in the previous month, reaching 10 900.
Western Africa
More than 5 300 irregular migrants arrived on the Canary
Islands in October, ten times the monthly total from a year ago. However, the
number was not included in the monthly total for illegal border crossings into
the European Union because it is a preliminary figure.
In the
first 10 months of the year, 11 400 irregular migrants were detected reaching
the Canary Islands. Most of these arrivals were recorded since the beginning of
August.
Nationals from sub-Saharan countries accounted for most of
the arrivals.
Central Mediterranean
The Central Mediterranean saw a 29% drop in illegal border
crossings from the previous month to around 3 000.
In the first 10 months of this year, the total number of
illegal crossings on this route more than doubled to above 28 400.
Tunisians have accounted for two out of every five illegal
crossings via the Central Mediterranean, while Bangladeshis were responsible
for one in five.
Western Mediterranean
There were 1 800 detections of illegal border crossings in
the Western Mediterranean in October, 37% less than in the previous month.
The total for the first 10 months of 2020 stood at 13 400,
or 37% less than in the same period in the previous year.
Algerians accounted for two-thirds of all detections on this
route this year, while Moroccans were the second most represented nationality.
Eastern Mediterranean
According to the most recent data, there were around 1 050
detections of illegal crossings reported in October on the Eastern
Mediterranean route, about a quarter less than in the previous month. Most of
the detections took place at the land border.
In the January-October period, the total number of
detections dropped by almost three-quarters to around 17 000.
Nationals of Afghanistan, Syria and Turkey accounted for the
largest number of detected migrants.
Western Balkans
There were nearly 3 500 detections of illegal border
crossings on the Western Balkan route in October, more than a third above the
figure in September.
In the first 10 months of this year, more than 19 700
migrants were detected at EU’s border with the Western Balkan countries, more
than double the total from the first 10 months of 2019.
More than half of the irregular migrants detected in the
region so far this year were Syrian, while Afghans accounted for another
quarter of all detections at the EU borders here.
*The figure includes other less active migratory routes not
mentioned in this press release. The final figures may be higher due to delayed
reporting.
Note: The preliminary
data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular
border-crossing at the external borders of the European Union. The same person
may attempt to cross the border several times in different locations at the
external border.