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Macedonia's role in decreasing migrant influx in Europe positive: Frontex

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Macedonia has played a positive role in decreasing the number of migrants into Europe, European Union (EU) border service agency Frontex declared.

Frontex said thanks to Macedonia's efforts, in comparison with previous months, the number of illegal crossings at EU's external borders in the Western Balkan region had decreased by 90 percent, Macedonian media reported on Tuesday.

According to Frontex, in March 2016, 4,930 migrants crossed the Greek-Macedonian border illegally, 10 percent less compared with March 2015.

The implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement, limiting the migrant influx, and the NATO operation in the Aegean Sea has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of migrants arriving to the Greek islands, Frontex said.

Furthermore, Frontex reported that in the first half of April, 100 people had been registered per day, adding that the migrant wave along the Central Mediterranean route via Italy was growing, where the number of migrants that have arrived at the Apennine Peninsula stands at 9,600.

Frontex is the European agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of EU member states. Endit