Balearic Islands, new critical route for irregular immigration in Europe

Concern is growing in the Balearic Islands over the record arrival of small boats from Algeria. The president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, warned that the migration route between Algeria and the Balearic Islands is the fastest growing in Europe, with more than 4,700 arrivals so far in 2025, 77% more than in 2024. 

The Balearic Islands are experiencing strong migratory pressure, especially in Ibiza and Formentera, where the reception network is saturated and the reception centres still have no opening date.

Prohens called on the central government and the EU to urgently deploy Frontex to the islands, citing information already shared by this body warning of an increase in the arrival of small boats via this route. She also called for cooperation with the Algerian authorities to be strengthened to prevent a humanitarian crisis.

In the last 20 days, 1,500 people have arrived, making the Balearic archipelago the main point of irregular immigration in Spain. Meanwhile, arrivals in the Canary Islands and the mainland have decreased, although a meeting with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs is planned for the end of September to address this crisis.