In the first half of 2024, irregular migration through the Balkan routes drops by 75%

2024-08-16 20:50:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In the first half of 2024, irregular migration through the Balkan routes drops

The EU Border Agency, FRONTEX, said in a report that in the first half of 2024, the biggest drop in irregular border crossings was observed on the roads of the Western Balkans.

According to FRONTEX, from January to July, 12,407 crossings of irregular migrants towards the borders of European countries were recorded on this route, which represents a decrease of 75 percent, compared to the same period of the previous year.

The agency said most of the migrants caught by border police in Western Balkan countries with the intention of traveling to European countries are from Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan.

FRONTEX says that the total number of irregular border crossings from all migration routes to the European Union in the first seven months of 2024 also fell by 36 percent (to 113,400) compared to the previous year's data.

But in an analysis published earlier by FRONTEX on developments on irregular migration for the years 2024-2025, the European police organization says that developments in the Middle East could boost migration in the region.

"Host country pressure on Afghan and Syrian migrant populations, the risk of regional escalation of the conflict in Gaza, and conflicts and economic downturns in neighboring regions are likely to be the main drivers of migration in the region," says FRONTEX.

According to the European police organization, the northern borders of the Western Balkans region with the European Union will remain key points. The strengthening of Serbian-Hungarian border controls has curbed movements to Hungary since October 2023 and diversions to the Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatia point or other exit areas such as the one between Serbia and Croatia may be seen as routes by smugglers of irregular migrants.

Frontex's analysis says that while migrants try to avoid northern Serbia, they may divert to points between North Macedonia and Kosovo or Albania and Montenegro.

Smugglers can try to profit by offering their services in various forms: from guiding groups of migrants to cross the green border belt, to secret crossings at border crossing points and providing false travel documents for onward transport. .

"Migration flows and arms smuggling will challenge border management in the region and reinforced border controls are the best way to prevent any more severe scenarios such as sudden mass flows to the European Union," says FRONTEX in its analysis of developments. expected in the years 2024-2025./ VOA