According to the integration barometer, two-thirds of Austrians rate living together with immigrants (67 percent) and refugees (68 percent) as fairly or very bad. That is a significant increase compared to a similar survey from April 2022, when only 47 and 45 percent respectively gave a negative opinion. 67 percent also thought life with Muslims was bad – in April 2022 this was still 60 percent.
The Integration Barometer is regularly conducted by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) in collaboration with Peter Hajek Public Opinion Strategies. 1,000 Austrian citizens aged 16 and over are being questioned. The authors of the study explain the sharp deterioration of the mood towards immigrants and refugees with a “positive outlier” in the previous year, which was due to the initial solidarity with war refugees from Ukraine.
One in three is concerned about the spread of political Islam
Accordingly, concerns about a new refugee crisis such as in 2015 due to the war in Ukraine have increased: in April 2022, only 20 percent of those surveyed worried about this ‘very often’, while it is now 32 percent. The situation is similar when it comes to fear of the spread of political Islam (increase from 24 to 31 percent) and of conflicts between migrant groups (increase from 19 to 27 percent).
Public spaces in particular are seen as problem areas when living together with refugees and immigrants (71 percent), followed by residential areas (65 percent) and schools (47 percent). In particular, living together on streets and squares in public spaces has deteriorated.
Raab: After Corona, other concerns become visible again
For Integration Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP), the integration barometer “clearly shows that the corona pandemic has removed many concerns that are now becoming visible again, such as the concerns about a new wave of refugees like in 2015”. Successful integration always depends on the number of people coming to Austria. “That is why Europe must work together to stop illegal migration. Only in this way can we ensure that integration works in the long term, that our social cohesion does not falter and that the refugees who really need protection also receive it.
Source: Krone
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