(VOVworld) - The number of migrants reaching Italy has surpassed the totals for Greece for the first time since June 2015, which might turn Italy back as the favorite gateway to Europe.

People aboard a migrant boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya are saved by Italy's navy. (Photo: AP)

Frontex, which co-ordinates European border management, said on Friday that the majority of those reaching Italy were originally from north Africa and the Horn of Africa. Since the beginning of 2016, there have been 40,000 refugees travelled to Italy across the Mediterranean Sea, up 25% from last year.

Italian media reported that the surge of migrants to Italy by this conventional route resulted from the EU-Turkey migrant deal which began taking effect in March and the shutdown of the Balkan route. The Italian government was worried that a stronger influx to Italy amidst stricter checks at its borders with France, Austria, and Slovenia will block migrants from travelling out of Italy, which may adversely damage Italy’s economy, politics, and society.