Unauthorized Migration to EU Drops Significantly Despite Political Rhetoric
TL/DR –
Unauthorized migration to European Union countries has significantly decreased in the first eight months of the year, despite political rhetoric and violence against migrants and far-right anti-immigration parties gaining political ground. Irregular crossings over the southern borders of the EU were down by 35% from January to August, but there was a spike in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands. Anti-immigrant sentiments persist, but Europe’s aging population, declining birth rates and labor shortages have increased the need for immigrant workers to sustain pensions and boost economic growth.
Despite escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric and far-right political gains in the European Union (EU), unauthorized immigration into EU countries saw an overall decline in the first eight months of the current year. However, migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands, an African-adjacent Spanish archipelago, have spiked.
Irregular migration influenced the EU parliamentary elections in June and eastern Germany’s state elections, where a far-right party triumphed for the first time post World War II. Germany consequently extended border controls amidst extremist attacks.
What do the numbers show?
Notwithstanding the debates, preliminary figures from the UN’s International Organization for Migration indicate a 35% decrease in irregular crossings over the EU’s southern borders from January to August. Unauthorized arrivals were down by nearly 115,000 migrants – less than 0.03% of the EU’s population, as compared to over 1 million people in 2015, most fleeing Syrian conflict.
EU’s border and coast guard agency Frontex reported a similar trend, with unauthorized crossings down 39% this year compared to 2023. Yet migrant arrivals in Italy have decreased approximately 64% this year, largely due to the EU-supported crackdown in Tunisia and Libya where migrants are systematically rounded up and left in the desert.
The decrease in migrant inflow might not persist, as smugglers frequently adapt to new border controls. According to Greek authorities, smuggling networks in the Eastern Mediterranean are increasingly utilizing speedboats to evade controls.
An alarming spike in the Atlantic
The UN reports that irregular migration via the Atlantic from West Africa to the Canary Islands has more than doubled, with over 25,500 migrants arriving in the islands as of Aug. 31. Migrant rights group Walking Borders has reported more than 4,000 missing or deceased migrants.
Spanish authorities now face a humanitarian crisis, as unaccompanied minors reaching the Canaries must be accommodated under Spanish law, causing overcrowded shelters and political disputes. Spain has thus made diplomatic efforts in West African countries to curb migration.
No magic solutions
Anti-immigrant sentiments persist despite Europe’s demographic need for immigrant workers to sustain economic growth. As migrants continue to flee instability and conflict in their home countries, their exodus continues.
“Migrants end up risking their lives, doing jobs in Europe where they face uncertain legal status and are vulnerable to exploitation,” says Camille Le Coz from the nonprofit Migration Policy Institute in Europe.
Long-term solutions like temporary work programs for migrants are still falling short. “This needs to happen at a much larger scale, and they need the private sector to be more involved,” Ms. Le Coz advocates.
Story source: The Associated Press.
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