The population of Germany, along with residents of the Netherlands, is the most tolerant towards immigrants and people of other nationalities
As reported by Russkaya Germaniya, the survey involved 11,494 people from 10 largest EU member states: the United Kingdom, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, France and Sweden – which account for 80% of the EU's population and 82% of its GDP. The survey results indicate that many Europeans see a link between the influx of refugees and an increase in the terrorist threat in Europe.
In eight out of ten countries, a majority of respondents share the opinion that the entry into the EU of a large number of asylum seekers increases the likelihood of terrorist attacks. Particularly notable in this regard are Poland and Hungary, where 76% and 71% of respondents respectively hold this view (in Germany 61%; the average for the ten countries is 59%). At the same time, as the report's authors emphasize, Poland and Hungary have accepted the smallest number of refugees.
In five out of ten countries, at least half of respondents consider migrants a potential economic burden and a threat to their own jobs and social benefits. Here again, Hungary and Poland lead – 82% and 75% respectively (in Germany 31%; the average for the ten countries is 50%).
Germany and Sweden, which have currently accepted the most refugees, are the only countries where at least half of respondents say that "migrants make their countries stronger through their talents and hard work."
At the same time, the report notes, right-wing populist parties in EU member states have successfully increased their numbers by campaigning against the acceptance of migrants from Muslim countries. The most "ideologized" are members of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), where 90% and 85% of party members respectively consider migrants a threat to their own well-being and the country's security, and the National Front in France (84% and 87%).
Migration is more associated with countries of the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq, from where the main influx of Muslim refugees is observed. Their perception by the indigenous population of the ten countries is influenced by negative attitudes towards Muslims already living in European countries. In five out of ten countries, attitudes towards "their own" Muslims are most negative: in Greece, 78% view them negatively, in Hungary 76%, in Spain 68%, in Italy and Germany 61% each (the average for the ten countries is 59%).
At the same time, Europeans are less inclined to believe that Muslims already living in EU countries may sympathize with extremist movements, including the terrorist group the Islamic Caliphate. With an average of 28% across the ten countries, 46% of Italians, 37% of Hungarians, 35% of Poles, and 30% of Greeks think so.
Muslims are not the only group perceived negatively by the titular nations of EU countries. Negative attitudes towards Sinti and Roma are held by 82% of Italians, 67% of Greeks, 64% of Hungarians, 61% of French, 49% of Spaniards, 47% of Poles, 45% of Britons, 42% of Swedes, 40% of Germans, and 37% of Dutch (average 48%). Anti-Semitism is much less pronounced. While 55% of Greeks, 32% of Hungarians, 24% each of Poles and Italians, and 21% of Spaniards have negative attitudes towards Jews, in the other five countries this figure ranges from 10% in France to 4% in the Netherlands (in Germany 5%, the average for the ten countries is 16%).