Rome - Sea migration in the central Mediterranean rose sharply last month, partly fuelled by an exodus from Tunisia, the European Union's border agency Frontex said on Tuesday.

Frontex said 4,650 migrants arrived in Italy and Malta last month, more than double the June figure, "in large part due to a significant rise in the number of irregular migrants departing from Tunisia."

On Monday, Italian and EU officials visited Tunis to offer financial support in return for more stringent border controls by Tunisian authorities.

Less illegal migrants in 2020 than 2019

Overall, Frontex said there were 8,650 illegal border crossings in July, up nearly a third from June - also counting sea arrivals in Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and those who came from the Western Balkans.

However, irregular migration into the EU in 2020 is still down from 2019 levels because of the novel coronavirus travel restrictions imposed earlier this year.

"In the first seven months of this year, the number of illegal border crossings at Europe's external borders fell by 15 per cent from a year ago to 47,250," Frontex said.

 Migration across the Mediterranean.