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The route to the Canary Islands is the “most active” in irregular entries to the EU despite the decline in January

by AI | 13.Feb 2025 | Europe in brief AI

The archipelago recorded 4,740 arrivals in the first month of the year, mostly from Mali, Morocco, and Guinea.

Several emergency services attend to migrants recently rescued from a canoe, in Puerto Naos, on January 4, 2025, in Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (Spain). Photo: Europa Press Canarias / Europa Press

Brussels – Irregular migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands fell by 34% last January compared to the same period the previous year, but it remains the “most active” route of entry to the European Union, according to the latest data provided by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), reporting 4,740 arrivals to the archipelago in the first month of 2025, mostly from Mali, Morocco, and Guinea.

Thus, Frontex points out that this entry route from West Africa accounts for almost a third of the total registered in this period across the European Union, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean route, which also recorded a decrease of 21% compared to January the previous year, but a total of 3,500 people were identified.

Meanwhile, the route that grew the most was the Central Mediterranean, where the 3,275 arrivals recorded in January represent an increase of 43% in cases compared to the same moment in 2024.

In a statement, Frontex regrets the high danger that maritime routes pose for migrants fleeing their countries and indicates that, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 93 people died in January alone while trying to reach the EU by sea. Throughout 2024, the number of migrants who died was 2,300.

The European border agency recalls that it has 2,700 agents deployed at the European Union’s external border to provide the necessary support to the national authorities of various member states to control the crossing.

In total, the number of irregular crossings at the European Union’s external border fell to just over 13,400 in January, which represents a decrease of 22% compared to the same month last year.

The Commissioner for Interior and Migration, Magnus Brunner, has highlighted that efforts to “strengthen border protection are reducing the number of irregular crossings,” especially on the Western Balkans route, and has defended Frontex’s role.

“We will continue to increase their resources to improve the effectiveness of our border protection efforts. We must remain vigilant and address the challenges that arise along all routes,” expressed Brunner in a statement released on social media. (February 12)