(ANSA) - BELGRADE, AUG 14 - According to preliminary data available to Frontex, irregular border crossings into the European Union decreased by 37% in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year, with approximately 61 000 detections recorded at the EU's external borders. In the Western Balkans, 4,910 irregular border crossings (6,673) were detected, down 26%. According to the data currently available, most major migratory routes saw fewer crossings than in 2025. The Eastern and Central Mediterranean were the busiest routes, accounting for approximately 60% of all detections currently recorded in the EU entry total. The Western African route experienced the steepest decline, while the Western Mediterranean was the only major route to show an increase. (ANSA).