Passages multiplied. The number of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean to the European Union has “more than doubled” in 2023 compared to the same period last year, the European agency Frontex indicated on Friday, in a statement.
In the first five months of 2023, EU countries recorded more than 50,300 irregular entries through this route, “the highest number recorded since 2017”, said the European agency. “The central Mediterranean remains the main migratory route to the European Union, and this route, with more than 50,300 entries, accounted for almost half of illegal arrivals in 2023,” Frontex added.
Migration pressure remains “high”
In all, the number of arrivals reported to Frontex between January and the end of May was 102,000, 12% more than for the same period last year. The second most active route is that of the Western Balkans, with more than 30,700 entries – all the same 25% less than a year earlier. All other routes, except the Central Mediterranean route, also recorded declines, ranging from minus 6% for the Western Mediterranean to -47% for the West Africa route.
These declines are mainly due to “the long period of bad weather, which made always dangerous journeys even more risky”. But the migratory pressure remains “high”, and “we can expect a resurgence of activity of smugglers in the coming months”, concluded the agency.