For a long time Spain and Italy were a final destination for boats carrying immigrants from Africa. Meanwhile the number of people trying their luck has fallen by more than 60 percent.

By correspondent Laura Corvo

Compared to the same time last year, the number of boat refugees reaching Spain has fallen by 62 percent. Strict police checks and the economic crisis have stopped migrants from attempting to cross the sea to Europe.

In recent years there has been an endless stream of boats from Africa moored along the Spanish coast. Many illegal immigrants put their lives at risk to escape the extreme poverty and social inequality. For a long time Spain was a final destination for boats carrying immigrants from Africa.

According to Frontex, the European Agency for the management of operational cooperation on the outer borders, 1318 migrants reached the Canary Islands during the first part of 2009. In the same period in 2008 this figure was 3723. That is a huge fall of more than 60 percent. Nevertheless, Frontex has found out that people are still attempting the treacherous journey across the sea from Africa to Spain.

Economic crisis
What has caused this drastic reduction? Is the economic crisis holding migrants back? Alfredo Abad, chairperson of the Spanish committee for help for refugees (CEAR): "The economic crisis has been felt most in the countries it originated from. As a result, migration is happening in even more risky and dangerous places."

In countries like Spain, the crisis has had serious consequences for the living standards of migrants. "Their position is getting worse, because they are unable to find work, get a contract and they get into debt."

Border control
But there are other reasons why illegal migration is on the decrease. Ever stricter European immigration policies and the increase in unemployment are apparently frightening people off. In addition, border control systems, such as Frontex, are increasingly being perfected. And bilateral treaties with countries like Senegal and Mauritania are also playing an important role. "That does not mean that there are fewer people planning to emigrate, but police checks are clearly having an effect."

Once the crisis has ended, the stream of refugees will resume. "Poverty in developing countries will continue to prompt people to try to improve their circumstances. Fortifying borders won't solve the problem, because sooner or later they will be breached. The underlying problem has to be addressed. Until that happens migrants will continue to come."

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The sea crossing to Italy has also become less popular

Half of all migrants who leave Africa by boat for Europe, arrive in Italy. In 2008 there were 36,000 migrants, 33,000 of them first set foot on Lampedusa, an island off Italy's southern coast.

In recent months, 6 percent fewer migrants registered in Italy than during the same period in 2008. This is partly because immigrants are picked up at sea by patrols from Libya and Italy. These migrants are immediately sent back to the African continent.

Now that it is clear that the stream of migrants arriving on the Canary Islands and in Italy is decreasing, the pressure is expected to increase on other parts of the European Union's southernmost coast, in places like Malta and the Greek islands of Samos, Chios and Mytilini.

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