More and more migrants are traveling to Spain via the sea

warsaw/brussels - The number of illegal migrants arriving in Spain via the Mediterranean Sea increased in May to 3,400, more than three times as much as in April. In the first five months of the year, there were 8200, a large doubling compared to a year ago.

Most migrants came from Guinea, followed by Morocco, Mali and Ivory Coast. This is shown by figures from the European border agency Frontex.

In May, 4100 people arrived in Italy by sea, more than 80 percent less than a year earlier. Via this route from mainly Libya roughly 13 450 people arrived this year, much less than in 2017. This mainly concerned Tunisians and Eritreans.

The sea route to Greece was also less popular. In May, 4400 migrants arrived, 40 percent less than a month earlier. Because in March and April more people landed on the east side of Europe, the total in the first five months reaches 19.800, mostly Syrians and Iraqis.

The European asylum agency EASO reported that the number of people seeking international protection in Europe is stabilizing at 50,000 per month. In the first four months, there were 197,000 fewer than the last three years, but more than in 2014. Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan remain the most important countries of origin.

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