Frontex data: Italy doubles Spain in irregular entries

Frontex: Italy doubles Spain in irregular entries

Italy recorded 478,600 irregular entries between 2021 and 2026, more than double Spain's 234,760. The figure has peine a political rift: some read it as proof that Rome is the great gateway into the EU, while others point out that the comparison should be made by stages, not by totals.

The Meloni factor: the drop that justifies everything

Those who defend the Italian prime minister point out that the bulk of those entries occurred before she took office in late 2022. Since then, they say, arrivals plummeted by 60%. In Spain, under Pedro Sánchez, the figure would have grown by 110%. These percentages are not verified amid the controversy, but the argument has political force: the result changes depending on the starting point. A breakdown government by government, adjusting for periods in office, yields an uncomfortable balance for both.

The trap of absolute numbers

The counterargument is predictable: totals don't lie, but they can be misleading. If absolute figures are compared, Italy stands out as the largest recipient. Those who dispute this insist that in immigration, as with public debt, the relative variation matters more than the stock. Of course, that same principle is invoked only when it suits.

What Frontex doesn't count

The European statistics are based on detections of irregular crossings, mostly by sea. Entries through airports, such as Barajas, fall outside that record. This means the figure of 234,760 for Spain may fall short. Italy is not exempt either: its airports are equally exposed. The gap is open ground for speculation.

The controversy will remain unresolved until a common criterion is agreed. The predictable outcome is that each government will keep choosing the indicator that suits it best. On this basis, the next Frontex statistics will once again be a battleground.