cardinal41 / DepositPhotos

cardinal41 / DepositPhotos

According to a recent report from Europol, the intensity of illegal immigration in the EU has slowed down due to isolation caused by a coronavirus pandemic. Now, since air traffic in the region virtually stopped, and the land border controls strengthened, smugglers carrying illegal immigrants, had to find other ways of delivery of people.

Europol believes that the easing of restrictive measures imposed by the European countries in connection with the threat of coronavirus, may be followed by a surge of illegal immigration to Europe, reports “Interfax”.

“Relief of the restrictions on travel and movement is likely to lead to increased movement of illegal immigrants… because they are during the isolation of the largely could not move,” said police service of the European Union.

This week the European Agency for the asylum (EASO) published a report, according to which a pandemic could increase migration flows to the EU in the case that the epidemic will lead to increased tension in the middle East and North Africa. At the same time, reminded the Agency, is that there is a reduction in migration into the EU.

“Continued economic instability and a sustained lack of prospects in the economies of some African countries in the medium term may trigger another wave of illegal immigration towards the EU,” warned the Agency.

Europol noted that in the current environment will increasingly be used by small boats for crossing the river and across the English channel. Also immigrants will be hidden in the trucks and freight trains crossing the border.

Europol is also accused Turkey that early in the year, she helped a large group of illegal immigrants to cross the border with Greece.

European media are reminded that the maximum number of immigrants who wanted to obtain asylum in the European Union, had in 2015 – more than 1 million people. Then the EU took measures to curb the migration flow, and as a result, in 2019 less than 123 thousand people have made similar requests to the EU authorities. In 2020, this number has reached 22 thousand people.