Morocco – Spain migration route rises as EU crossings fall

Irregular migration on the Western Mediterranean route from Morocco and Algeria to Spain rose by 66% in early 2026, defying a wider drop in crossings into the European Union, Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi reported on April 21.

The route recorded 4,402 crossings between January and March in the first quarter of 2026, marking a sharp increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to Frontex data. It was the only major corridor to record an increase.

Frontex said total irregular crossings into the EU fell by around 40% in the first three months of the year across all major routes, amid climate pressures and shifts in smuggling networks’ strategies. Most routes, including the Eastern and Central Mediterranean, recorded declines of more than one-third.

UNHCR data also shows a broader decline in arrivals across southern Europe over the same period, reflecting a wider reduction in crossings along several established migration routes.

Migrants on the Western Mediterranean route were mainly from Morocco, Algeria and Mali, Frontex said, with most arrivals recorded in Spain during the period. Spain remains one of the main destinations for migrants using this corridor.

The Western Mediterranean route connects Morocco and Algeria to Spain, with crossings taking place by sea or via attempts to enter the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. These movements are typically carried out in small boats or through attempts to cross fortified land borders. Departures from Algeria along this corridor have fluctuated in recent months.

Over the same period, the West African route towards the Canary Islands recorded 1,640 crossings, down 83% year-on-year, following earlier reports linking the decline to cooperation between Morocco and Spain. The route had previously seen sustained increases in arrivals before the recent drop.

Frontex linked the shift to changes in routes used by smuggling networks.

Yabiladi, Frontex, UNHCR, Maghrebi.org