September saw a 17% increase in irregular migration rates, the most since 2016, according to Frontex.
One in every two border crossing detections for the year occurred in the Central Mediterranean route, according to a Frontex news statement. However, border crossings along this route decreased by a third from the previous month, making the Western Balkan route the busiest route, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com.
In Q3 2023, the Western Balkan Route reaches its peak activity.
18,832 illegal border crossings were reported on this route between July and September, accounting for 23% of all detections made along this route over the entire year (81,830). This is the second busiest route of the year, after the Central Mediterranean, and it passes through nations such as Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.
In 2023, Turkiye, Syria, and Afghanistan were the countries of origin for migrants via this route.
Frontex also shows that the activity on this route decreased by 23%, primarily as a result of some nations’ stricter visa regulations.
Source: Schengen Visa News
