Irregular entries into the European Union fell by almost one third in the first nine months of 2026.

Omissions

• The figure is a Frontex detection count at the EU external border, i.e. preliminary operational data on border-crossing detections, not a final Eurostat statistic on persons; it can be revised.
• The decline is measured against an already sharply reduced baseline: Frontex had reported falls of 37% in the first half and 35% in the first eight months of 2026, and 2025 crossings were already at multi-year lows, so the cumulative multi-year drop is much larger than one third.
• The second part of the MEP's sentence (that asylum applications also fell) is not covered by the normalized claim and was not independently verified here.

Sources

• PrimaryFrontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) — news release"The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union continued to fall in the first nine months of 2026, with detections down by almost one-third... Just over 91 000 crossings were recorded, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex."
• PrimaryFrontex — 'Irregular border crossings into the EU down 37% in the first half of 2026'Frontex preliminary data show irregular border crossings into the EU down 37% in the first half of 2026 (context for the year-to-date trend).
• SecondaryBrussels Signal — 'Irregular EU border crossings drop nearly one third in first nine months of 2026'"Irregular border crossings into the EU: down 32% in the first nine months of 2026. Just over 91 000 detections."