The Western Balkan route continues to be the busiest, the European Border Agency said on Thursday.
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The number of irregular entries into the European Union increased between January and September by 70% compared to the same period of 2021, the European Border Agency, Frontex, announced on Thursday October 13.
A total of 228,240 illegal entries were recorded in the first nine months of this year, including 33,380 in September. This is the highest level since 2016. The Balkan route continues to be the busiest, with 106,396 illegal entries over nine months, up 170% year on year, the agency said in a statement. .
The route was used mainly by Syrian, Afghan and Turkish migrants. The number of those taking the Eastern Mediterranean route increased during the same period by 118%, and by 42% for those choosing the Central Mediterranean route.
On the other hand, the number of illegal entries fell by more than 30% on the eastern border of the EU, as well as on the western Mediterranean route, according to Frontex.