13/02/26 (Agence Europe) – Irregular entries into the European Union fell by 60% year-on-year in January 2026, with around 5,500 people detected at the external borders, according to preliminary data published by the Frontex agency on Friday 13 February. This drop can be explained by severe winter storms and rough seas, which made crossings extremely dangerous. While the Eastern Mediterranean remained the busiest route with 1,900 arrivals, albeit down 50%, the West African route recorded the sharpest decline (-79%). Despite this notable reduction, the human toll is high: the International Organization for Migration deplores more than 450 deaths in the Mediterranean in the same month, three times as many as in January 2025. Faced with this situation, Frontex denounced “ruthless” smugglers, who continue to launch “overcrowded, unseaworthy boats”. The full report: https://aeur.eu/f/kpy (JM)