Scientia et Securitas
Volume/Issue:
Accepted Manuscript / Online First
Változó migrációs trendek a Nyugat-Balkánon
Authors:
Viktor Marsai Migrációkutató Intézet, Budapest, Magyarország
Nemzeti Közszolgálati Egyetem, Budapest, Magyarország

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Árpád Párducz Migrációkutató Intézet, Budapest, Magyarország

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Meszár Tárik Migrációkutató Intézet, Budapest, Magyarország

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Online Publication Date:
05 Mar 2025
Publication Date:
05 Mar 2025
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/112.2025.00242
Keywords:
irregular migration; Western Balkan route; human smuggling; social media networks; border control;
Keywords (Hungarian):
irreguláris migráció; nyugat-balkáni útvonal; embercsempészet; közösségimédia-hálózatok; határellenőrzés;
Open access

A tanulmány az elmúlt egy évben a nyugat-balkáni irreguláris migrációs útvonalon bekövetkezett változásokat vizsgálja. Az elemzés kiemeli Románia és Bulgária tranzitországként betöltött növekvő szerepét, ami a szigorított határellenőrzéseknek és a migrációs minták változásának köszönhető. Ezenfelül bemutatja az olyan közösségimédia-platformok funkcióját az embercsempész-hálózatok szervezésében, mint a Facebook és a WhatsApp, ahol az anonim kommunikáció révén szervezik az illegális határátlépéseket. Továbbá a kutatás részletesen elemzi az alternatív útvonalak dinamikáját, különös tekintettel a román–magyar határra, és értékeli a helyi hatóságok válaszlépéseit, beleértve a Frontexszel való szorosabb együttműködést. A terepkutatások és az online csoportok tevékenységeinek feltárása révén fény derül az irreguláris migráció és az embercsempészés jelentette kihívásokra, rámutatva az integrált szakpolitikai megoldások szükségességére.

The study examines the changes that have occurred over the past year along the Western Balkan route of irregular migration. Since October 2023, the increasing activity of the Serbian authorities along the Serbian-Hungarian border has restructured the main migratory routes towards Europe. The analysis highlights the growing role of Romania and Bulgaria as transit countries, attributed to stricter border controls and shifts in migratory patterns. In 2022, Bulgarian authorities registered 164 000, while in 2023 180 000 irregular border crossing attempts. Considering the join of the two countries to the Schengen zone, their importance in the border protection of the EU will be critical, and it is essential to understand the dynamics of irregular migration in the region.

The paper also illustrates the function of social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp in facilitating human smuggling networks, where anonymous communication is used to organize illegal border crossings. The researchers of MRI got access to the groups and collected data about the modus operandi of the network. Unfortunately, most irregular migrants use these sources of information to organize their journey to Europe. Since smugglers are interested in recruiting as many people as they can, in most cases social media platforms contain false information about the risks of the journey to encourage more people to leave and pay.

Furthermore, the research provides a detailed examination of the dynamics of alternative routes, with a particular focus on the Romanian-Hungarian border, and assesses the responses of local authorities. By uncovering the activities of field research and online groups, the study sheds light on the challenges posed by irregular migration and human smuggling, emphasizing the need for integrated policy solutions. Additionally, particular attention is given to Bulgaria, which in recent years has become one of the primary entry points for irregular migration in the Balkans. The migration pressure on the country is further intensified by armed attacks against authorities, some of which have resulted in fatalities. The research reveals that Bulgarian authorities have been forced to enhance cooperation with Turkish authorities and Frontex, while also implementing new surveillance and defense systems. Another key finding is the increasing use of modified vehicles by human smuggling networks to evade enforcement. However, these methods often lead to severe traffic accidents, frequently resulting in loss of life.
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Cover Scientia et Securitas
Scientia et Securitas
Online ISSN:
2732-2688

Editor-in-Chief:

Founding Editor-in-Chief:

  • Tamás NÉMETH

Managing Editor:

  • István SABJANICS (Ministry of Interior, Budapest, Hungary)

Editorial Board:

  • Attila ASZÓDI (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)
  • Zoltán BIRKNER (University of Pannonia)
  • Valéria CSÉPE (Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Brain Imaging Centre)
  • Gergely DELI (University of Public Service)
  • Tamás DEZSŐ (Migration Research Institute)
  • Imre DOBÁK (University of Public Service)
  • Marcell Gyula GÁSPÁR (University of Miskolc)
  • József HALLER (University of Public Service)
  • Charaf HASSAN (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)
  • Zoltán GYŐRI (Hungaricum Committee)
  • János JÓZSA (Budapest University of Technology and Economics)
  • András KOLTAY (National Media and Infocommunications Authority)
  • Gábor KOVÁCS (University of Public Service)
  • Levente KOVÁCS (Óbuda University)
  • Melinda KOVÁCS (Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE))
  • Miklós MARÓTH (Avicenna Institue of Middle Eastern Studies )
  • Judit MÓGOR (Ministry of Interior National Directorate General for Disaster Management)
  • József PALLO (University of Public Service)
  • István SABJANICS (Ministry of Interior)
  • Péter SZABÓ (Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE))
  • Miklós SZÓCSKA (Semmelweis University)

Ministry of Interior
Science Strategy and Coordination Department
Address: H-2090 Remeteszőlős, Nagykovácsi út 3.
Phone: (+36 26) 795 906
E-mail: scietsec@bm.gov.hu

DOAJ

2023  
CrossRef Documents 32
CrossRef Cites 15
Days from submission to acceptance 59
Days from acceptance to publication 104
Acceptance Rate 81%

2022  
CrossRef Documents 38
CrossRef Cites 10
Days from submission to acceptance 54
Days from acceptance to publication 78
Acceptance Rate 84%

2021  
CrossRef Documents 46
CrossRef Cites 0
Days from submission to acceptance 33
Days from acceptance to publication 85
Acceptance Rate 93%

2020  
CrossRef Documents 13
CrossRef Cites 0
Days from submission to acceptance 30
Days from acceptance to publication 62
Acceptance Rate 93%

Publication Model Gold Open Access
Submission Fee none
Article Processing Charge none

Scientia et Securitas
Language Hungarian
English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 2020
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Academic Council of Home Affairs and
Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates
Founder's
Address		 H-2090 Remeteszőlős, Hungary, Nagykovácsi út 3.
H-1055 Budapest, Hungary Falk Miksa utca 1.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
Applied
Licenses		 CC-BY 4.0
CC-BY-NC 4.0
ISSN ISSN 2732-2688 (online), 3057-9759 (print)
   

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