A positive climate of acceptance prevails among the majority of European Union citizens regarding the new framework for irregular immigration being promoted by Europe, following the signing of the new Pact on Asylum and Migration. The creation of return centers for irregular migrants in countries outside the EU, a proposal that initially divided opinion, has ultimately been accepted by the majority of member states. It is set to be officially implemented within the framework of a special European regulation, following the agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
According to findings from the Polling Europe Euroscope survey, presented by Eunews, 52% of respondents declared their support for EU agreements with third countries to host return centers for all migrants whose asylum applications on European territory have been rejected. Only 25% expressed opposition, while the remaining 23% said they don’t know or don’t wish to answer.
The research company also provides detailed data for the five most populous EU member states: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. Among citizens of these countries, the highest support rates for creating so-called “return hubs” are recorded in Germany, where 58% hold a positive view and 22% negative. Spain follows (54% versus 30%), then France (51% versus 18%) and Poland (49% versus 22%). In contrast, Italy is the country where the difference between supporters and opponents is smallest, with 42% of respondents supporting the Brussels proposal while 36% reject it.
Immigration: Universal support for the new framework
Polling Europe’s data leads to even more interesting conclusions when examined through the lens of respondents’ political preferences. The proposal for repatriation centers finds strong support among voters of center-right and right-wing European parties: 70% of Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) supporters are in favor, as are 63% of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR, which includes Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia) supporters, 61% of Patriots for Europe (PfE, the political family that includes Lega) voters, and 58% of European People’s Party (EPP, which includes Forza Italia) voters.
Less expected is that support rates are also quite high among left-wing and center-left European citizens. The idea of repatriation centers in third countries is supported by 43% of The Left group supporters (which includes the Five Star Movement and Sinistra Italiana), as well as the same percentage of Green voters (Greens/EFA). The percentage increases to 49% among those identifying with the Socialists and Democrats (S&D, represented in Italy by the Democratic Party) and reaches 57% among voters of the liberal Renew Europe group.
It should be noted, however, that when MEPs were called to vote on Parliament’s position regarding the new returns regulation on March 26, the text was approved by a broad majority, with support from minority factions within center-left groups.
