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Immigration Solicitors

51% of Europeans “optimistic” about the future of the EU despite immigration concerns (3 August 2015)

Date: 03/08/2015
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, 51% of Europeans “optimistic” about the future of the EU despite immigration concerns

A Eurobarometer survey carried out across all 28 EU member states has shown that immigration is a concern for all EU countries, but most EU residents are “optimistic” about the future of the EU.

The poll carried out in May revealed that 38% of respondents said that immigration was a more important EU issue than the economy.

The researchers said that six months earlier, only 24% of respondents thought that immigration was the EU’s main concern, behind the economy, unemployment and public finances.

In the last few months, however, the summer weather has led to greater numbers of migrants from Africa and the Middle East attempting to cross the Mediterranean to reach the shores of Europe.

Greece has in recent weeks become the main point of entry for migrants and refugees, rather than Italy.

Migrants who arrive in the EU are able to cross borders easily as a result of the Schengen area. Free movement across borders is a founding principle of the EU – but asylum seekers are supposed to claim asylum in the first EU country they reach.

Many asylum seekers are dispersing across Europe, however – with numbers at Calais swelling to an estimated 5,000 this summer, from an average of 2,000 in previous years.

The Eurobarometer poll found that 20 EU member states placed immigration first as the main EU concern – with 65% of those polled in Germany and Malta putting immigration first.

Malta has also seen a rise in the number of migrants and refugees arriving by boat on its shores – and many migrants head for Germany to settle. Germany takes in the highest number of asylum seekers among EU countries.

The poll also found that 51% of respondents were positive about cross-border migration within the UK – with only slightly more (56%) negative about immigration to the EU from non-EU countries.

Overall, 58% of respondents said they were optimistic about the future of the EU – and only 36% expressed a negative outlook about the EU in the future.

Terrorism only came fifth on the list of most pressing concerns for the EU, with fears rising by only 6% since the last poll – despite rising tensions and violence in African and Middle Eastern countries and the threat to mainland Europe from extremists.

The bi-annual poll was conducted with 32,000 people across the EU and the results are published in en.europeonline-magazine.eu.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid immigration solicitors able to advise migrants from the EU and non-EU countries on a wide range of immigration matters, including:

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• British citizenship
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• Illegal entry to the UK
• Marriage in the UK
• Modern Slavery Bill
• Right to work in the UK
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• Student visas
• Visa overstays.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

For urgent help with immigration matters, call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036, where an accredited immigration lawyer is available 24/7.


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