Number of migrants reaching EU sharply rises

The number of migrants arriving in the European Union rose by 86 percent between January and July compared to the same period last year, the European border agency Frontex said Friday.

In July alone, the number increased by 63 percent year on year to 34,570, according to a news release publishing the preliminary data.

Overall, 155,090 migrants arrived in the EU from January to July, it said.

More than 14,866 irregular entries, "nearly three times more" than in July last year, were recorded via the Western Balkan route, which continues to be "the most active".