Brussels, 14 Mar (LaPresse) – While most migration routes saw a decline in the number of arrivals, the central Mediterranean route defied the trend. The number of irregular border crossings in the EU fell by 25 per cent in the first two months of 2025, to almost 25,000, while the Central Mediterranean route saw the biggest increase, with a 48 per cent year-on-year rise to almost 6,900 in the first two months of the year. This made it the second most active migration route to the EU. This was reported by Frontex, the EU border control agency, based on preliminary data.Libya remains the main departure point on the central Mediterranean route, with traffickers increasingly relying on powerful speedboats to outsmart the authorities. The cost of a sea crossing varies between €5,000 and €8,000 per person. Bangladeshi nationals remain the most common nationality on this route, often exploiting formal agreements between Libya and Bangladesh to enter legally for work before making the sea crossing.