Croatia cuts illegal border crossings by 70%

(Photo: MUP)

ZAGREB, 27 March 2025 (Hina) – The number of illegal crossings over the Croatian border has dropped by around 70% this year, Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović announced on Wednesday following a meeting with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, in Zagreb.

“These figures, much like last year, are falling dramatically. This is largely due to the tremendous efforts of the Croatian police. To put it in numbers, illegal crossings were down by 68% last year and by about 70% this year,” Božinović said during a joint press statement.

Božinović and Brunner visited the National Coordination Centre in Zagreb, where the minister showcased how Croatia monitors its border, which also serves as an external boundary of both the European Union and the Schengen Area.

“Our aim is to keep improving our skills while equipping ourselves with more technical tools. These can really help us by reducing the need for manpower, which we can then deploy more strategically. If we spot migrant movements towards our border early enough, we can position police officers accordingly,” Božinović explained.

(Photo: MUP)

He added that the police are “very proactive in preventing” migrant smuggling. “Practically every car with registration plates or other markings that we spot in the border area—and which, by the logic of everyday life, shouldn’t be there—we check as a precaution. This approach has delivered excellent results,” the minister noted.

Brunner, who described cooperation with Croatia as “fantastic,” praised the country for doing “an incredible job in protecting our borders—the borders of the Schengen Area and the external frontiers of the European Union.”

“It was impressive to see the work of the Croatian police and border officers in safeguarding our borders. The numbers speak for themselves: they’re down by nearly 70% at the border, which is truly remarkable,” he said.

When asked by journalists about figures at the European level, Brunner replied that they are also decreasing, “though not by 70%—more like over 20%,” which he viewed as a positive trend.

“However, some member states are more affected, particularly in the western Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. Spain, for instance, is currently seeing a bigger impact, especially via the Canary Islands,” Brunner added.