The number of illegal border crossings at Europe’s external borders fell by 14% in the first eight months of this year to 60 800*, largely because of a drop in arrivals in Eastern and Western Mediterranean, according to preliminary calculations.
In August, the number of illegal border crossings fell by 30% from the previous month to nearly 9 200.
Central Mediterranean
In August, the Central Mediterranean route accounted for more than half of all illegal border crossings at EU external borders at 4 800, although the figure dropped by a third from the previous month.
In the first eight months of this year, the total number of illegal crossings on this route rose to nearly 20 600, nearly three times the low figures a year ago.
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 nearly 1 600 detections of illegal border crossings in the Western Mediterranean in August, 7% less than in the previous month
The total for the first eight months of 2020, was nearly half the figure from the same period in the previous year at 8 200.
The number Algerians, who accounted for nearly two-thirds of all detections on this route this year, was six times the figure from a year ago. Moroccans were the second most represented nationality on this route.
Eastern Mediterranean
According to the most recent data, there were some 900 detections of illegal crossings reported in August on the Eastern Mediterranean route, roughly in line with the total from the previous month. Recent monthly totals are well below the levels from a year ago.
In the first eight months of 2020, the total number of detections dropped by nearly two-thirds to around 14 200.
Nationals of Afghanistan, Syria and Turkey accounted for the largest number of detected migrants.
