Irregular crossings increase on the Western Mediterranean route according to Frontex
The European border surveillance agency, Frontex, has revealed a significant increase in irregular migratory activity across the western Mediterranean. During the first seven months of the year, the Strait of Gibraltar region recorded a total of 11,217 entries, which represents a 37% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.
According to the technical report issued by the Warsaw-based agency, this route stands out as the only main path that has shown an upward trend. The breakdown of the figures indicates the following:
- Maritime arrivals: 8,648 cases compared to the 7,096 reported in the previous cycle.
- Land arrivals: 2,569 cases, notably exceeding the 1,079 recorded previously.
It is important to note that these statistics do not include the exceptional events that occurred in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of June, which were excluded from the official count due to their particular characteristics.
General downward trend at the European Union borders
Despite the rebound in the Gibraltar area, the migration landscape at the European Union’s external borders maintains a downward trend. Globally, approximately 61,000 irregular crossing attempts were recorded, which represents a 37% decrease compared to the year 2025.
The general decline in irregular entry attempts reflects a number of factors, including continued cooperation with partner countries and preventive measures taken by countries of origin and transit.
Frontex Report
Other key migratory routes have experienced considerable setbacks in the same period:
- West African route to the Canary Islands: recorded a 60% reduction, with 4,682 arrivals.
- Central Mediterranean to Italy: the number of intercepted attempts fell to 16,454, a 55% drop.
- Eastern Mediterranean: remained the route with the highest volume, reaching 20,232 interceptions, although this represents a 28% decrease compared to last year.
Frontex attributes this moderation in migratory flows to the effectiveness of surveillance strategies and the strengthening of diplomatic agreements with the countries from which asylum seekers and migrants depart.
