Brussels, 18 May 2026
The EU Commission’s 2026 State of Schengen report presents the border-free area as resilient, more digitalised and better equipped, citing a 26% fall in irregular border crossings in 2025 and the launch of the Entry/Exit System. Frontex data adds that detections fell by 40% in the first four months of 2026, while warning that the Central and Eastern Mediterranean remain the busiest routes and that smuggling networks continue to expose migrants to deadly crossings.
EU Commission report shows Schengen area continues to be resilient and ready for future challenges
Brussels, 18 May 2026
The EU Commission published its fifth State of the Schengen report, reviewing developments in the Schengen area over the past year and setting priorities for the year ahead. The Schengen area continues to demonstrate resilience, underpinned by collective efforts at both EU and national level.
The Schengen area is one of the European Union’s most tangible and valued achievements, enabling a more than 450 million EU citizens to travel, work, study and live freely across borders while supporting trade, tourism and freedom of movement of goods vital to the European economy, alongside strong cooperation to protect the Union’s external borders.
The 2026 State of Schengen Report highlights significant achievements during the past year. These include a better protected external border and a decrease of 26% in illegal border crossings in 2025 compared to 2024. Joint efforts also resulted in more effective returns of persons without a right to stay in the EU, with a 28% return rate in 2025 – the highest return rate in the past 10 years. A key milestone for external border protection was the full launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026, delivering on a stronger, more digitalised Schengen area. Already in the first 6 months of operation, Member States registered over 66 million entries and exits and 32 000 persons, who had no right to enter the EU, were refused. The Commission also adopted the EU’s first-ever Visa Strategy in January 2026.
At the same time, the report showed that challenges remain requiring actions at EU level and by Schengen States. This is particularly important in the context of today’s geopolitical environment which calls for reinforced collective responsibility to ensure that the Schengen area remains secure, united and resilient.
The priorities for the fifth Schengen cycle (2026-2027) will focus on consolidating achievements, addressing remaining gaps, and enhancing preparedness to meet current and future challenges. Work will continue in the following areas:
- Supporting Schengen’s external dimension: including with the upcoming proposal for a revised Visa Code which will address security elements of the EU visa policy. In addition, developing partnerships with key countries to attract talent for innovation and enhance the EU’s global competitiveness will also be prioritised.
- An integrated external border for a secure Schengen area: advancing the digitalisation of procedures, with the continued implementation of the new Entry-Exit System and the launch of ETIAS, the new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers. This will be further supported by the effective implementation of the Screening Regulation and reinforced contingency planning under the Pact on Migration and Asylum.
- An effective return system: Schengen states should further strengthen operational capabilities and tools to support returns, while making use of Frontex support. An effective implementation of the new return border procedure – a key feature of the Pact on Migration and Asylum – will further strengthen the EU’s return system. The Commission will also present a legislative proposal on return digitalisation in 2026, with a view to developing digital case management systems in this area. This will further contribute to reducing the administrative workload of national authorities, simplifying and automating processes.
- Consolidating the operational framework for internal security cooperation: through continued structured dialogue facilitated by the Schengen Coordinator with all Member States concerned or affected by internal border controls, in view of the gradual lifting of controls.
- Strengthening the Schengen governance with strategic funding under the next long-term budget (MFF) and more systematic country-specific discussions. At EU-level work should continue to complete Cyprus’ Schengen accession, to reach full implementation of the Schengen rules relevant to internal security in Ireland and to continue strong engagement with enlargement countries.
Next steps
The Commission invites the Schengen Council to discuss the 2026 State of Schengen report and adopt the 2026-2027 priorities at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in June.
Background
The Commission has been evaluating annually the State of Schengen since 2022 as part of a reinforced Schengen governance framework. This exercise marks continued delivery on the Commission’s initiative to reinforce the common governance of the Schengen area and ensure a structured, coordinated and common response to its challenges.
For more information
- Fifth State of Schengen report
- Schengen Area – benefits of Schengen
- Entry/Exit System (EES)
- ETIAS
- Visa Strategy
Quote(s)
To keep Schengen both open and secure, we must modernise how we manage mobility and security risks. We are advancing the digitalisation and interoperability of large-scale information technology systems. This is central to stronger border checks, better situational awareness and ultimately a more secure Schengen area. At the same time, through notably the Pact on Migration and Asylum we are strengthening migration management and returns, while also stepping up efforts to attract talent for innovation and enhance the EU’s global competitiveness.
Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
We are at a turning point for border and migration management. We have put in place the most modern border management system in the world, are in the final stretch of implementing the largest reform of our migration and asylum system to date, and are advancing new rules to ensure the effective return of people with no right to stay in the EU. At the same time, we continue to face new challenges and threats every day. Together with Member States, we are working closely to address them and to ensure that the Schengen area keeps going and growing.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
Source – EU Commission
Frontex: Irregular border crossings into the EU down 40% in the first four months of 2026
Warsaw, 15 May 2026
The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union continued to fall in the first four months of 2026, with detections down by 40% compared with the same period last year. Just over 28 500 crossings were recorded, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex. The decline reflects a combination of factors, including sustained cooperation with partner countries, preventive measures in key departure states and difficult weather conditions earlier in the year.
Key highlights
- The Central Mediterranean and the Eastern Mediterranean were the busiest routes, each accounting for around a third of all irregular entries into the EU.
- The Western African route saw the steepest decline, with detections down by 78%, largely as a result of preventive measures taken by Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia in cooperation with Spain and the EU.
- The Western Mediterranean was the only major route to record an increase, with detections up by 50%, driven mainly by departures from Algeria.
The overall number of irregular arrivals continues to fall, but the human cost remains devastating. According to the International Organization for Migration, over 1 200 people have lost their lives in the Mediterranean so far this year. Criminal smuggling networks continue to send people out on dangerous crossings in overcrowded and unseaworthy boats, regardless of the conditions.
The volatile security situation in the Middle East continues to carry risks for the EU’s migration landscape. The conflict has displaced large numbers of people across the region, and ongoing instability in Lebanon raises particular concerns, along with the risk of sea departures towards Cyprus and other Mediterranean destinations. Frontex continues to monitor developments closely.
With over 3 800 officers present at the EU’s external borders, Frontex continues to support national authorities in safeguarding Europe’s borders and saving lives at sea.
Most active routes
The Central Mediterranean was the busiest route in the first four months of the year, with around 8 500 arrivals recorded, a decline of 46% compared with the same period last year. Libya remained the main departure point, accounting for the vast majority of crossings on this route. Political dynamics in countries of departure and origin, as well as preventive measures by the Libyan authorities, continued to shape the flow. The main nationalities detected were Bangladeshi, Somali and Sudanese.
The Eastern Mediterranean recorded around 8 400 crossings, a fall of 32%. While some corridors saw notable decreases, the Libya-to-Crete corridor remained active.
The Western Mediterranean was the only major route to register an increase, with around 5 200 detections, up by 50% year-on-year. Algeria remained the main departure country. The rise reflects a shift in smuggling routes, as stricter controls in Morocco and on the neighbouring Western African and Central Mediterranean routes have pushed more departures towards Algerian shores.
The Western Balkan route registered around 2 800 detections, a decline of 19%. The Croatian border with Bosnia and Herzegovina remained the main exit point from the region. As weather improves and migrant mobility increases, the route is expected to come under growing pressure from secondary movements linked to the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Western African route registered around 2 300 detections, making it the steepest decline of all routes at 78%. Preventive measures implemented by Mauritania since spring 2025, and more recently by Senegal and The Gambia in cooperation with Spain and the EU, have significantly reduced departures. However, smuggling networks remain adaptable, and activity on this route is volatile and can shift quickly as conditions change.
The Eastern Land Border saw around 1 100 detections, a fall of 49%. However, pressure from Belarus resumed sharply in March after a quieter start to the year, driven by better weather and recent legislative changes easing access to the border zone. On the EU-Ukrainian border, crossings primarily involved Ukrainian men seeking to avoid military conscription.
Attempts detected on exit towards the UK across the Channel, which include both those who reached the UK and those prevented from leaving, almost halved to some 9 900.
* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular border crossings at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may cross the border several times in different locations at the external border.
Source – Frontex