2016-08-25
FRAN QUARTELRY: ILLEGAL CROSSINGS DOWN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2016
In the first quarter of this year, FRAN indicators on illegal border-crossing between border crossing points (BCPs), illegal stay and asylum eased after reaching record levels in the fourth quarter of 2015. Irregular migration pressure steadily decreased between January and March 2016, although it was still higher than in any previous first quarter since the FRAN data collection began in 2007.
In total, there were 284 525 detections of illegal border-crossing in the first quarter. With more than 150 000 crossings reported, the Eastern Mediterranean experienced the largest migration pressure, although the number of detections has been falling steadily after peaking in October 2015. After the EU-Turkey statement came into effect and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia applied stricter border policies at its border with Greece in March, some 8 800 migrants were detected on the Eastern Mediterranean in the period between April and June.
FRAN Quarterly reports are prepared by the Frontex Risk Analysis Unit to provide a regular overview of irregular migration at the EU’s external borders, based on the irregular migration data exchanged among Member State border-control authorities.
