Frontex says that irregular entries into the EU have decreased by almost 40%, but the Algeria-Spain route is growing strongly.

The number of irregular crossings of the European Union's borders has decreased by almost 40% in the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary data published by Frontex. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency recorded nearly 39,000 such crossings between January and May.

In short

Frontex recorded nearly 39,000 irregular crossings of the EU borders in the first five months of 2026. The total is almost 40% lower than in the same period of 2025. The Central Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean were the most active routes, each accounting for about one-third of irregular entries. The West African route saw the largest decrease, with 71% fewer detections. The Western Mediterranean is the only major route with an increase, with 7,100 detections, 46% more than last year.

Frontex attributes the decrease to sustained cooperation with partner countries and preventive measures taken in key departure states. These measures have reduced the number of vessels setting off for Europe, especially on routes where authorities in the countries of origin or transit have intensified controls.

The data comes at a time when the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is coming into effect. The Pact introduces a unique and standardized screening process at the external borders of the Union. Frontex officers support member states in identifying the nationality of arriving individuals, collecting biometric data, and verifying documents.

Frontex's Executive Director, Hans Leijtens, stated that everyone arriving at the external borders of Europe must be identified, registered, and verified according to the same standard, regardless of the place of arrival. He said the Pact transforms "27 different ways of doing things" into a single system, and Frontex officers have been on the ground from the start to assist with implementation.

The Central Mediterranean was the busiest route in the first five months of 2026, with approximately 11,600 arrivals. The number is nearly half compared to the same period last year. Detections increased in May as conditions at sea improved, but remained well below the levels of 2025. Libya was the main departure point, and the main nationalities detected were Bangladeshis, Somalis, and Sudanese.

The Eastern Mediterranean recorded approximately 11,500 crossings, down 28%. The corridor from Libya to Crete remained the most active on this route, ahead of arrivals on the islands of the Aegean Sea and at land borders with Turkey. The main nationalities detected on this route were Afghans, Bangladeshis, and Sudanese.

The Western Mediterranean is the only major route where Frontex recorded an increase. Approximately 7,100 detections were reported between January and May, 46% more than in the same period of 2025. Algeria remained the main country of departure, and the Balearic Islands were the most targeted destination.

Frontex explains this increase by a shift in the routes used by migrant smuggling networks. Stricter controls in Morocco and neighboring routes in West Africa and the Central Mediterranean have pushed more departures towards the coasts of Algeria.

The West African route recorded the largest decrease, with approximately 3,200 detections, down 71%. Frontex notes the preventive measures implemented by Mauritania since the spring of 2025 and, more recently, by Senegal and Gambia, in cooperation with Spain and the EU. However, the agency warns that trafficking networks adapt quickly, and activity on this route can increase or decrease suddenly depending on conditions.

On the Western Balkans route, Frontex's table indicates 3,600 detections in the first five months, down 16%. The main nationalities were Afghans, Turks, and Egyptians. At the eastern land borders, Frontex reported 1,801 detections, down 41%, with Ukrainians, Pakistanis, and Afghans among the main nationalities.

Attempts to exit to the United Kingdom via the English Channel, which include both individuals arriving in the UK and those stopped before departure, have decreased by 40%, to approximately 15,200. Frontex states that a new agreement between the UK and France, signed in April, should strengthen patrolling along the French coast in the coming months.

Although the total number of irregular arrivals is decreasing, Frontex emphasizes that the risks remain high. According to the International Organization for Migration, nearly 1,300 people have died in the Mediterranean since the beginning of the year. The agency states that trafficking networks continue to send people to sea in overcrowded and unsafe boats, regardless of conditions.

The volatile situation in the Middle East remains a source of uncertainty for migration developments towards the EU. Frontex shows that the conflict has displaced a large number of people, and broader economic consequences may increase migratory pressures in the region and beyond. So far, these developments have not produced a significant change at the external borders of the EU.

Frontex has 3,800 officers present at the external borders of the European Union. The agency states that it supports national authorities in border management and in maritime rescue operations.

The overall decrease shows that control measures and cooperation with countries of departure and transit can quickly reduce the number of crossings on some routes. At the same time, the increase in the Western Mediterranean shows that pressure does not disappear but can shift to other corridors when a route becomes more difficult.

For the EU, the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum begins at a time when irregular entries are decreasing, but borders remain under pressure, and the human risk at sea remains high. The next test will be whether the common screening system can function uniformly in member states, without the trafficking networks' route changes quickly exceeding the authorities' capacity to respond.