In the first ten months of 2020, migration flows to Greece dropped 74% compared to flows registered in the same period in 2019.
The data was released by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
Specifically, according to the data, some 17,000 crossings into Greece were recorded between January and October 2020.
Most of the 1,050 crossings recorded in October 2020 occurred over land, as opposed to sea crossings.
Between January-October, the migration influx increased in the central Mediterranean region and in the western Balkans, as opposed to the reduced influx in the eastern and western Mediterranean regions.
This contributed to an overall reduction of migration flows into Europe by 21%
Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta sign joint memorandum on migration
The four European Union countries on the front line for migration – Greece, Italy, Spain and Malta – sent a joint memorandum on Wednesday, outlining their positions regarding the bloc’s new pact on migration and asylum.
The memorandum which was signed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela, was sent to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The four PM’s underlined that the rules must be clear, not only in terms of the responsibilities of the countries of first entry, but also in terms of the rules for solidarity between member states, so that responsibility is shared.
They also stressed that border control procedures should not lead to the creation of large closed centres, while stressing the external aspects of migration, both in terms of relations with the countries of the southern neighbourhood and in terms of an effective system of returns.
