Illegal migration in the European Union decreased by 55% over the last two years.

Omissions

• The MEP rounded the decrease upward from approximately 53% to 55%, a small overstatement of roughly 2 percentage points.
• The claim refers to 'the last two years' but the most directly comparable data covers full calendar years 2023 to 2025. Using the most recent 12-month rolling period (mid-2024 to mid-2026) would require partial 2026 data not yet available for a full-year comparison at the time of the speech.
• The MEP cited no source for the figure; it appears to derive from Frontex data on irregular border crossings, which is a proxy metric for 'illegal migration' but does not capture all forms of irregular entry or overstay.
• The second part of the original claim — a 90% decrease on the Western Balkan route over three years — was not verifiable within the available search scope and may warrant separate fact-checking.

Sources

• PrimaryFrontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency)The number of irregular border crossings at the EU's external border in 2023 reached a total of approximately 380,000, driven by a rise in arrivals via the Mediterranean.
• PrimaryFrontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency)New preliminary data from Frontex reveal a significant 38% drop in irregular border crossings into the EU in 2024, reaching the lowest level since 2021.
• PrimaryFrontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency)The number of irregular border crossings at the European Union's external borders fell by over one-quarter (26%) in 2025 to almost 178,000. This is less than half the total recorded in 2023 and the lowest level since 2021.