Irregular migrant arrivals on Italy’s shores have decreased significantly by 62.3% in the first seven months of 2024, according to the Italian interior ministry. While Italy experienced a sharp decline in migration flows, Spain and Greece saw a significant rise in landings, with increases of 153% and 57% respectively.
The interior ministry’s report highlighted a substantial reduction in migration along the Central Mediterranean route, where arrivals dropped by 64%. The Balkan route also saw a steep decline of 75% in migration flows. In contrast, there was a notable surge in migrant arrivals along the Western and Eastern Mediterranean routes, specifically impacting Spain and Greece.
The ministry also reported a 19.7% increase in repatriations during the same period. A total of 3,079 repatriations were carried out in the first seven months of 2024, compared to 2,572 in 2023. Departures from Tunisia remained consistent with last year’s figures, while those from Libya showed an upward trend.
Additionally, the report focused on border crossings into Italy from Slovenia following the reinstatement of border checks in October 2023. Out of the 503,718 people monitored, 211 were arrested, including 108 suspected of aiding illegal immigration. A total of 3,846 migrants were apprehended while attempting to cross the border irregularly.