The Eastern Mediterranean migratory route was the third most active on the external borders of the European Union during the first five months of 2022, according to preliminary calculations published by Frontex. A significant percentage of this activity was recorded in Cyprus.
The largest number of arrivals during the same period was recorded on the Western Balkans route (40,675 crossings, or half of the total number recorded at EU’s borders), the Central Mediterranean route (16,828 crossings) and the Eastern Mediterranean (13,668 crossings).
On the Eastern Mediterranean in particular, the number of detections rose by 116% compared to the same period last year.
Detections in Cyprus rose sharply compared with last year, by 213% and accounted for two out of every three illegal border crossings on this route (9,230 crossings).
Most migrants on the Eastern Mediterranean came from Nigeria, Syria and Congo (Kinshasa).
In May, the number of irregular migrants rose 55% to 2,226 persons.
Western Balkans and Central Mediterranean
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On the Western Balkan route, the number of illegal crossings more than doubled during the first five months of 2022, compared to the same period last year.
The main nationalities on this route included Syrians and Afghans, as well as Turks. Most of the people detected had been in the Western Balkans already for some time before seeking to enter the EU.
In May, the number of irregular migrants detected in the region more than doubled to 12,088.
Detections on the Central Mediterranean route remained relatively stable with about 16,828 illegal border crossings, an increase of 15% from the same period of last year. The main nationalities represented on this route were Egyptians, Bangladeshi and Tunisians.
In May, the number of irregular migrants stood at 6,066, roughly in line with the figure from the same month last year.
Illegal crossings increased by 82% on all EU external borders
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Between January and May, 86,420 irregular entries were detected at the European Union’s external borders. This is 82% more than in the same period of last year.
In May, Frontex registered around 23,500 irregular crossings, up 75% from the same month last year.
People fleeing Ukraine and entering the EU through border crossing points are not part of the figures of illegal entries detected. According to the latest Frontex data, more than 5.5 million Ukrainian citizens have entered the EU from Ukraine and Moldova since the beginning of invasion in February.
Meanwhile, on the Eastern border, the number of illegal border crossings so far this year has increased more than four-fold to 2,155. The main nationalities on this route were nationals of Ukraine, Iraq and Belarus.
In May, there were 207 detections, 67% more than in the same month last year.
Outflows on exit on both sides of the Channel increased by 122% compared to 2021. Based on historical data, the peak period on this route normally lasts from June to November. In 2022, over 46 different nationalities have been recorded in the Channel, with a sharp increase in Albanian nationals since mid-April.
Source: Cyprus News Agency