According to preliminary data from the EU border agency Frontex, the number of irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 39 percent in the first eight months of this year, totaling 139,847 crossings.
The highest decreases in irregular border crossings were again recorded along the Western Balkan route and the Central Mediterranean, with drops of 77 percent and 64 percent respectively, according to a statement from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex.
On the contrary, the eastern land border and the route from West Africa registered the highest increases with 193 percent and 123 percent respectively.
The main countries of origin for the migrants were Syria, Mali, and Afghanistan.
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Decreases due to preventive measures in departure countries
"The decrease in the Central Mediterranean is due to a large degree to the preventive measures implemented by Tunisian, Libyan, and Turkish authorities; another factor which might have reduced the irregular migration flows on this route are the agreements signed by the EU and by the single Member States with the main countries of origin of the migrations," the EU agency noted.
"The Central Mediterranean remains the most active migration route toward the EU, but with a close second being the Western Mediterranean, which registered an increase of 39 percent."
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