Trends in attitudes towards migration in Europe. A comparative analysis

Author(s) : Silke Goubin, Anna Ruelens, Ides Nicaise

Source : https://www.opportunitiesproject.eu/media/attachments/2022/04/20/changing-attitudes-towards-migration.pdf

Abstract:

“This report examines the evolution in attitudes towards migrants and migration in Europe. Concretely, the report investigates and discusses the changes in the perception of migrants and attitudes towards migration between 2002–2018 using the European Social Survey data. Both the evolution of migration
perceptions within countries and the cross–national evolution across European countries are discussed and illustrated visually. The analyses indicate that most Europeans are either ambivalent or relatively positive about migration. Further, important between–country differences are present in Europe. Central and Eastern European countries are especially negative about migration, and they have also grown more negative in the wake of the 2015–2016 refugee crisis. Scandinavian and Anglo–Saxon countries, in contrast, hold more positive views. In fact, in most European countries, citizens have become more supportive of tolerant immigration policies over the examined period, though few are supportive of an open border policy. Finally, certain categories of citizens in the sample tend to exhibit lower levels of support for migration. Citizens with lower levels of income and education, (radical) right–leaning political attitudes, low levels of trust, and the elderly, are on average more negative about migrants and open border policies.”