Frontex data on Balkan route ‘only part of reality,’ says ICS

The non-profit lay organization Italian Consortium of Solidarity (ICS) that works with migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the north-east of the country, around the city of Trieste and in the region bordering Slovenia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, believes that recent data released by the EU border agency Frontex only shows a partial picture of reality for migrants on the Balkan route.

In a statement released on January 15, ICS said that data released by Frontex appeared to show what seems like a sharp decrease in the numbers of migrants traveling along the Balkan route. However, they believe the figures require more “careful analysis” and should be analyzed alongside other sources to prevent hasty or distorted interpretations.

The organization noted that “no international source shows a real decrease in departures from the main areas of origin of refugees. On the contrary, in some regions such as Afghanistan, the situation is getting worse.”

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‘Migrants continue to be concentrated in third countries’

This implies that “migrants and refugees continue to be concentrated in third countries, from which they will in any case be forced to move. They cannot return to their countries of origin, nor can they stay in states that do not guarantee legal protection according to the Geneva Convention and relevant instruments of international law,” believes the ICS.

It also implies that the reduction in transits should be analyzed “alongside the figures — that might at first glance appear contradictory — showing an increase in arrivals from Greece, a country of geographical entrance for the route,” the statement noted.

By not isolating one route, but taking it alongside data from source countries, through transit countries, the ICS believes the overall data shows there has not been a decrease in the number of arrivals towards Europe through eastern routes.

“From Greece, in fact, those seeking protection tend to move due to serious gaps in local asylum systems, which have been condemned by European courts including the European Court of Human Rights,” stated the organization.

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‘Traffickers’ networks ever more structured’

The ICS also expressed “concern” over the reduction in visible presences in the Balkans, which are reportedly due to an “increase in illegal pushbacks at the external borders of the European Union and in non-EU states” and of “ever more structured traffickers’ networks with transits that occur in less visible ways.”

The statement concludes by noting that the “idea that significant successes are being achieved in the fight against criminal organizations, despite being widespread, is not supported by an adequate scientific analysis.”

The organization has a much more pessimistic overview of the reality for many who are still attempting to reach Western Europe through routes such as the Balkan route.