Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route Regional Overview 2022

Data and Trend Analysis (DATA) Refugees and Migrants at the Western Balkans Route Regional Overview July-September 2021 describes key trends in migrations in the region, detailing information about the number of people on the move, demography (age, sex, country of origin, etc.), behavioural patterns, and routes in use – with a focus on children, particularly unaccompanied children.
Key trends showcased in this report:
• In 2022, the number of crossings along the Eastern Mediterranean route doubled compared to 2021, while 136% more crossings were registered along the Balkans route. This is the highest number of crossings reported on the Balkans route since 2015 and about half of all reported entries in the EU in 2022.
• A high turnover rate was reported since refugees and migrants spent a short time in each country before continuing the journey, including towards the EU member states.
• The route remained unsafe for refugees and migrants. Legal options for protection and migration are still scarce and non-functional, and violent pushbacks occur regularly.
• the EU is upgrading European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) status agreements with Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, continual reports on violence against children and adults tell about the importance and necessity of establishing border practices that will reduce violence, preserve the life and dignity of refugees and migrants, and provide additional care to vulnerable groups such as children.
• It is reasonable to assume that the worsening conditions that refugees and migrants face in Türkiye, particularly for boys and young men from Afghanistan, contributed to increased arrivals through the Balkans; this remains a concern for 2023.
• The war in Ukraine has brought an additional group of people to the countries in the region, primarily women and children, who require protection and support.