Attachments
Executive Summary
As the first major Italian city along the Italian-Slovenian border, Trieste remains a key entry point for people fleeing conflict and persecution, particularly those arriving from Asia. Its strategic location provides an important vantage point to observe migratory dynamics at one of the most critical nodes of the so-called Balkan route, as well as the migration management practices implemented in this congested transit area. Despite the relevance of this border crossing, comprehensive data on people arriving via land through Italy’s northeastern border remain limited. No official statistics on such figures are regularly published by the Italian government, which only reports sea disembarkations through its daily dashboard. Recent reports by European and international bodies suggest a continued decline in movements along the Balkan route. According to Frontex, detections of people crossing into Europe via this route decreased by 42% in 2025, falling from 21,520 in 2024 to 12,525 in 2025. Frontex attributes this reduction to strengthened border control measures and increased operational cooperation between national authorities and the agency, including the expansion of operational support in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo during 2025. Similarly, UNHCR estimates that in 2025 mixed movements along the Balkan route declined by 39% compared to 2024, with approximately 9,350 people transiting through the Western Balkans as part of mixed migration flows. However, at the same time, UNHCR suggests a more limited decrease in the number of people arriving by land toward Italy. In 2025, around 6,400 people were intercepted by Italy’s border police at the border with Slovenia, representing an 11% decrease compared to the 7,200 interceptions recorded in 2024. Regional authorities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia reported approximately 8,000 asylum seekers arriving in the region by 30 November 2025, a 20% decline compared to the previous year. Data from neighboring Slovenia also recorded 28,200 irregular arrivals in 2025, reflecting a 39% decrease compared to the 46,217 irregular crossings reported in 2024. Field data collected by IRC Italy in collaboration with Diaconia Valdese in the area around Trieste’s Central Station similarly indicates a decline in the number of people arriving to Italy, though at a different scale. In 2025, IRC and Diaconia outreach teams met and supported 9,761 people, compared to 13,460 in 2024, representing a 27% decrease. As these figures reflect only individuals directly reached by IRC and Diaconia staff, they offer a partial picture of movements along this border and indicate that the total number of people entering Italy through this route may be higher.