Since a crisis in Ukraine unfolded, considerable changes in the number of illegal crossings of the border between Ukraine and Schengen states haven't been registered.
The number of illegal crossings remains low, reads a report on the functioning of the Schengen area within a two-year period made by the European Commission of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
Nevertheless, a number of requests for sanctuary were constantly growing and the total number of Ukrainians’ requests for sanctuary to EU member states and Schengen countries in May-July 2014 exceeded 2,500, which is 12 times more year-over-year, reads the statement posted on Thursday, Nov. 27.
In addition, the documents reads that despite relatively low number of persons seeking sanctuary and people illegally crossing Schengen area borders, EU member states and agencies should pay adequate attention to these events, particularly to their impact on EU and Schengen area security.
