The European Union registered more than 33,000 returns of irregular migrants to third countries in the first half of this year, according to data published by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Of these people, around 21,000 returned voluntarily to their countries of origin, while the rest were returned by force.
This total number of 33,000 returns represents an increase compared to the same period of the previous year, in which around 30,000 returns were registered. Frontex revealed these data today, highlighting the positive evolution in the number of people who left European territory.
The numbers refer exclusively to the first half of the year, covering the first six months of the current year. The agency did not specify which countries of origin were most represented in these return statistics.
