15
March
2005

Majorities’ Attitudes towards Migrants and Minorities: Key findings from the Eurobarometer and the European Social Survey

In 2003 the Agency commissioned a research team from the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands (NISCO) to conduct a major analysis of data from the 2003 Eurobarometer Survey and the 2003 European Social Survey on attitudes towards minorities and migrants in different European countries. The researchers also compared the findings of the 2003 Eurobarometer with results of earlier Eurobarometer Surveys. The research team produced a statistical analysis, written up as four reports.

The Agency captured key findings in a separate summary report. According to the 2003 European Social Survey, 79 per cent of the respondents had no problem interacting with minorities. At the same time, almost half of the respondents displayed a critical attitude towards cultural and religious diversity. According to the 2003 Eurobarometer survey, 60 per cent of the respondents in the EU-15 expressed the view that multiculturalism had certain limits, an opinion that has increased since 1997.

Attitudes towards Migrants and Minorities in Europe  
The Agency published a summary report on "Majority Attitudes towards Migrants and Minorities: Key findings from the Eurobarometer and the European Social Survey" on 15 March 2005.

Media Release: PDF [endefr]

In 2003 the Agency commissioned a research team from the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands (NISCO) to conduct a major analysis of data from the 2003 Eurobarometer Survey and the 2003 European Social Survey on attitudes towards minorities and migrants in different European countries. The researchers also compared the findings of the 2003 Eurobarometer with results of earlier Eurobarometer Surveys. The research team produced a statistical analysis, written up as four reports.