Frontex publishes numbers on irregular migration

Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has released^[1] its latest statistics on irregular border crossings in 2025. The trend is downward and Frontex appears confident that with the entry into force of the European Pact for Migration and Asylum as well as the Entry/Exit System and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), the tendency will remain similar in 2026. The European Pact for Migration^[2] will significantly restrict the EU’s migration policy, among others by facilitating returns to third countries  while the Entry/Exit^[3] and ETIAS^[4] systems will help keep track of potentially illegal border crossings.

When it comes to maritime borders, the Central Mediterranean remained the most used migration route into the EU in 2025. Frontex reports similar detection levels as in 2024. On the Eastern Mediterranean route, detections fell overall, continuing a downward trend. The Western Africa route saw the steepest declines, with detections down by around two-thirds, driven by sharp drops in departures from Mauritania, Morocco and Senegal. Frontex also reports that “attempts detected on exit towards the UK across the Channel, which include both those who reached the UK and those prevented from leaving, continued roughly in line with 2024.”

Despite the overall decrease in irregular migration, including via sea, the Agency stresses that the risks related to irregular migration via sea remain significant, as criminal smuggling gangs often force people to attempt dangerous crossings in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats. Frontex also quotes estimations from the International Organization for Migration, according to which at least 1 878 people lost their lives in the Mediterranean in 2025, compared with 2 573 the previous year. Frontex points out that its planes and vessels support national authorities by detecting boats in danger and sharing this information in real time, helping improve situational awareness, and search and rescue preparedness.

[1] https://www.frontex.europa.eu/media-centre/news/news-release/frontex-irregular-border-crossings-down-26-in-2025-europe-must-stay-prepared-lyKpVb

[2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-migration-asylum-reform-pact/

[3] https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees

[4] https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/about-etias/what-is-etias