Brussels, Belgium – Irregular border crossings into the European Union have decreased by 42% since the beginning of the year, according to a report released Tuesday by Frontex, the EU's border agency.
The agency attributes the decline to significant drops in crossings along the Western Balkan route (79% decrease) and the Central Mediterranean route (64% decrease). However, the report also notes a doubling of crossings from Africa and a near tripling of crossings into Poland from the EU's eastern border.
Despite the overall decrease, the increase in crossings along certain routes highlights the shifting patterns of migration and the ongoing challenges faced by the EU in managing its external borders.