Illegal Migration to the European Union Falls Sharply in 2025 Amid Border Agreements
Official European Union data show that irregular migration into the EU in 2025 fell to its lowest level in four years, reflecting a significant decline attributed to strengthened border controls and expanded cooperation with non-EU countries.
According to a report by the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, the number of people entering the EU illegally in 2025 dropped by about one quarter compared with the previous year. As reported by Euronews, nearly 178,000 irregular border crossings were recorded during the year, the lowest figure since 2021.
Frontex described the decline as a “notable development,” while cautioning that the situation along the EU’s external borders remains fragile. Agency officials said that despite encouraging trends, risks linked to irregular migration persist and continued regional cooperation is essential.
Data released by Frontex indicate that attempts to cross into the EU via the West Africa route fell by around 63 percent in 2025, while the Western Balkans route recorded a 42 percent decrease. A 37 percent drop was also registered along the EU’s eastern border with Belarus.
The agency attributed the sharp decline on the Western Balkans route to improved security measures and enhanced cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The most frequently recorded nationalities among those attempting irregular crossings were Bangladeshi, Egyptian, and Afghan.
Despite the overall decline, the Central Mediterranean route remained the most active, accounting for roughly one third of all irregular crossings. Frontex reported more than 66,000 attempted crossings via this route in 2025, mainly from Libya to Italy, only one percent fewer than in 2024.
Meanwhile, Deutsche Welle reported that the EU’s new Migration and Asylum Pact, set to be fully implemented in June, includes measures to strengthen border protection with Frontex coordination, accelerate asylum procedures at borders, increase returns, and introduce digital registration of entries and exits across the bloc.
