Brussels, 19/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - The number of illegal migrants intercepted doubled over the third quarter of 2013 on the borders of the countries of the southern EU, using the resources deployed to monitor the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, according to the latest report of the European borders agency, Frontex, published on Tuesday 18 February.
The data notified by the states reveal 42,628 migrants were detected between July and September 2013, twice as many as the same period in 2012 (22,093), the agency states.
Syrians were the most detected nationality in terms of illegal entry, says Frontex. They also submitted more applications for asylum than any other nationality. Eritreans, Somalis and Egyptians were the next most detected nationalities.
The main migratory pressure points noted for this period were Sicily, where 20,000 illegal migrants were detected, and the border between Hungary and Serbia, with an increase of 271% in attempted crossings, according to Frontex.
A very high number of attempted illegal crossings into the EU were also recorded in Greece and Bulgaria, with migrants coming from Turkey. Frontex also notes considerable pressure on the borders of the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco. The control operations carried out during summer 2013 in the member states showed a 26% increase in the number of irregular residents in France and 24% in Germany. (SP/transl.fl)