📉 Irregular border crossings into the EU: down 35% in Jan-Aug 2026
🔹 More than 74 000 detections
🔹 Steepest drop: Western African route (-58%)
🔹 Only increase: Western Mediterranean (+34%)
🔹 Excludes the July movement into Ceuta
More details: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
160 million movements registered - that means almost 3 million per week, out of which 50,000 people with no right to enter were refused.
Delivering real security benefits - the EU’s new Entry Exit system.
📉 Irregular border crossings into the EU: down 37% in the first half of 2026
🔹 Just over 49 000 detections
🔹 Steepest drop: Western African route
🔹 Only increase: Western Mediterranean
Details ➡️ frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
Planning to #TravelToEurope? You may hear about two new EU border systems: EES and ETIAS.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational since 10 April 2026.
ETIAS is a travel authorisation expected to start in the last quarter of 2026. Learn the differences👇
Returns are a cornerstone of credible migration management. In 2025, Frontex supported 29 Member States on returns.
Return operations supported by Frontex rose 13%: 56,262 in 2024 to 63,493 in 2025. Voluntary returns: 41,369 (65%). Forced returns: 22,124 (35%).
Return counselling: 17,809 one-to-one sessions. Reintegration support: 19,144 people registered under the EU Reintegration Programme. #Frontex#Returnsfrontex.europa.eu/2025-in-br…
📢Situation at EU external borders: JAN-FEB 2026
📊Severe weather contributes to a 52% drop in irregular border crossings into the EU
⚠️ Central Mediterranean is the busiest route, accounting for nearly 30% of all entries into the EU
📉Western African route sees the biggest drop (-83%)
👉For more insights, read our press release: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
📢Situation at EU external borders: January 2026
📊 Severe winter weather contributes to a 60% drop in irregular border crossings into the EU
⚠️ Eastern Mediterranean is the busiest route, accounting for a third of all entries into the EU
📉 Western African route sees the biggest drop (-79%)
👉For more insights, read our press release: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
The Entry/Exit System was launched on 12 October 2025 and will be fully deployed at all border crossing points by 10 April 2026.
It records the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling for short stays to 29 European countries, helping safeguard #SchengenEU.
Great to meet @LeijtensFrontex today to reaffirm the strength of IOM–@Frontex cooperation.
Together, we explored how to advance migration management that is effective, humane, and grounded in fundamental rights - at the heart of our shared commitment.
📢 In 2025, the number of irregular border crossings to the EU dropped by 26% to 178 000, the lowest since 2021
📉 Western African route saw the biggest drop (-63%)
⚠️ Central Mediterranean was the busiest route, accounting for 37% of all arrivals
👉For more insights, read our press release on the migratory situation at the EU’s external borders in 2025: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
“The trend is moving in the right direction, but risks do not disappear,” said Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens. “This drop shows that cooperation can deliver results.”
👉 For more insights, read our press release: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
📢 Situation at EU external borders: First 11 months of 2025
📊 Irregular border crossings fall by 25%
📉 Western African and Western Balkan routes continue with strong declines
🚨 Central Mediterranean route accounts for nearly 40% of all irregular entries
📈 Western Mediterranean route sees 15% increase
frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
📢 Situation at EU external borders: First ten months of 2025
📊 Irregular border crossings fall by 22%
📉 Western African, Western Balkan, and Eastern Land Border routes continue with strong declines
🚨 Central Mediterranean busiest route, accounts for 40% of all irregular arrivals
📈 Western Mediterranean sees 27% increase
More details: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
📢 Situation at EU external borders: First nine months of 2025
📊 Irregular border crossings fall by 22%
📉 Western African, Western Balkan, and Eastern Land Border routes continue with strong declines
🚨 Central Mediterranean is the busiest route, accounts for 40% of all irregular arrivals
📈 Western Mediterranean sees 28% increase
More details: frontex.europa.eu/media-cent…
246 cocaine pellets. Swallowed. Carried across the Atlantic.
The destination: Paris.
The plan: smuggle over 2 kilos of drugs into Europe.
🇫🇷 @PoliceNationale and #Frontex teams uncovered the plot at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Swift action, smugglers stopped, drugs seized.