EU Nations fear refugee influx will raise terror risk: survey
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BERLIN (APP) - A majority of Europeans fear the recent refugee influx will heighten the risk of terrorist attacks and cost their countries jobs and social benefits, said a survey released Monday by the Pew Research Center.
The US institute's survey across European countries shows growing concern about the historic influx of more than one million asylum seekers last year and about the integration of minority groups, Muslims in particular.
In eight of the 10 countries surveyed, representing 80 percent of the European population, at least half of the public believe that "incoming refugees increase the likelihood of terrorism in their country", the survey said.
The view was held most strongly, by 76 percent of respondents, in Hungary and by 71 percent in Poland -- both countries which have received proportionately few migrants as their governments have adopted a tough stance toward refugees.
In Germany -- the largest EU economy, which last year took in the biggest number of migrants and refugees -- 61 percent shared this concern, while 60 percent of Italians and 52 percent of British voiced the same fears.
Paradoxically, in France, a country hard hit by jihadist attacks in 2015, only 46 percent thought the danger of an attack had increased.
In general, the Pew Center found that "the refugee crisis and the threat of terrorism are very much related to one another in the minds of many Europeans".
