Research Institute for European and American Studies
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos
Foreigners feature disproportionately in Police's statistics on serious crime
According to criminality figures for 2016 released by the Hellenic Police, foreigners contribute significantly in serious crime. Foreigners are 36% of those arrested for homicides, 47.2% of those arrested for rape and 32.3% of those arrested for robberies.
The official data on criminality for 2016 can be found here (in Greek only)
Majority of Greeks are concerned about Islamic extremism
A Pew survey showed that 74% of Greeks are (somewhat & very) concerned about extremism in the name of Islam in Greece.
The survey can be read in full here (in English)
Unemployment much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (1st quarter of 2017), the unemployment rate of foreign nationals was much higher compared to the Greeks (32.1% compared to 22.8% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)
Vast majority of Greeks disapprove of EU’s handling of the refugee issue
A Pew survey showed that 91% of Greeks (compared to 66% EU average) disapprove of the EU’s handling of the refugee issue and 62-70% of Greeks (compared to 66-74% EU average) think that the national government should make decisions on migration inflows.
The survey can be read in full here (in English)
Greece has received 102,184 asylum applications in the last 4 years
According to Greece’s Asylum Service, 102,184 people have submitted asylum applications in Greece in the last 4 years. International protection was granted in only 35.8% of cases.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 21/6/2017) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Greeks’ views towards immigrants remain negative
According to an opinion poll conducted by Kantar for UK think-tank “Chatham House”, 68% of Greeks argue that immigration has not been beneficial to the country and 58% think that all new migrant inflow from mainly Muslim countries should stop.
The relevant article (Kathimerini, 22/6/2017) can be read in full here (in Greek only)
Risk of poverty much higher for foreign nationals
According to the latest Income and Household Living Conditions Survey the population at risk of poverty or social exclusion between the ages of 18-64 years old was much higher for foreign nationals compared to the Greeks (59.7% compared to 38% respectively).
The relevant press release by the National Statistics Authority can be read here (in Greek only)