Immigrant entries into the EU fall by 40% but the Balearics are the "most travelled" destination

BrusselsThe same day that the European Union's major migration reform enters into force, the community border control agency, Frontex, has published a report stating that the arrival of irregular newcomers has fallen by 40% during the first five months of this year, to 39,000 entries. The only migratory route that is growing is the one that culminates on the Iberian Peninsula: it has increased by 40%, although it remains in absolute figures below routes such as the Central Mediterranean or the Eastern Mediterranean. "Algeria continues to be the main country of origin, and the Balearic Islands continue to be the most transited destination," the Frontex report points out.

Conversely, the migratory route that has seen the largest percentage decrease is the one ending in the Canary Islands. In these first months of the year, 3,175 people have entered, which represents 71% less than Frontex registered during the same period in 2026. Entries of migrants through two of the busiest migratory routes have also substantially decreased: the Central Mediterranean route fell by 49%, to 11,636 arrivals, and the Eastern Mediterranean route decreased by 28%, settling at 11,461 entries.

The two routes through which fewer irregular newcomers arrive in EU territory are also declining: Eastern Europe, which has registered a decrease of 41% and has remained at only 1,801 entries, and the Western Balkans, which is down 16%, to 3,600. As for the busiest migratory route, the one that starts from continental Europe to the United Kingdom and crosses the English Channel, it has fallen by up to 40%, to 15,192 arrivals.

Despite the decrease in arrivals in the European Union, the community border agency warns of the danger faced by migrants wishing to enter the European bloc and states that almost 1,300 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean so far this year. "Each of these deaths is a reminder of the risks people are forced to take," the report points out.

Agreements with third countries

Frontex assures that the main reason for the decrease in immigrant entries into Community territory is the agreements signed between the member states and the European Union with third countries, which act as a containment wall against the migratory routes heading to Europe. Specifically, the report highlights the pacts signed between Spain and the European Commission with Mauritania, as well as with Senegal and Gambia. On the contrary, the fact that there is no agreement with Algeria causes the western Mediterranean route to grow and, therefore, arrivals to the Balearic Islands to increase, in particular.

For this reason, the EU migratory reform that comes into force this Friday aims to promote new agreements with third countries. However, involving countries from outside the European bloc in immigration management poses a political danger to the Community bloc. These states, largely governed by authoritarian regimes that do not respect the human rights of migrants, often politically instrumentalize waves of immigrants and threaten to let them advance towards the European Union in exchange for economic or political favors. One of the examples is the decision of the Spanish government to recognize that Western Sahara belongs to Morocco after Rabat provoked a migratory crisis.