As Europe harshens migration rules, nearly 34,000 fewer people attempted to enter the continent illegally in the first three months of 2025 compared to 2024.
Politico reports that irregular crossings have dropped by more than 30 percent, according to Frontex the EU’s border agency.
Migration remains at the forefront of Europe’s politics as internal Schengen borders close and a new coalition government in Germany agrees on a tougher migration stance.
The European Union has threatened harsher migration regulations in recent months. They include a plan to streamline deportations, tougher penalties for rejected migrants who fail to leave the bloc and the creation of so-called return hubs in countries outside the EU to house people awaiting deportation.
Frontex observed the decline across all migratory routes into the EU. The most significant decrease, by 64 percent, was through Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Due to recent changes to agreements with various third countries, Frontex is now operating on borders between third countries, which was an expansion from only borders of countries with the EU, Frontex spokesperson, Chris Borowski explained.
The busiest route was through Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria, even with a 29 percent drop since the start of the year.
However, thousands of people still make the deadly crossings by land and sea. The International Organization for Migration estimates that 385 people died at sea in the first quarter of 2025, while some 2,300 died in 2024.
