Mediterranean migrants’ issue divides Europe

Europe, News May 22, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

The stretch of sea between North Africa and Italy is the world’s deadliest migration route. Over 1,700 people are believed to have died trying to cross the Mediterranean this year alone while the European Union is urgently trying to find a solution to the problem.

But how exactly do the European public feel about the migration crisis in southern Europe?

According to research conducted by YouGov, support for search and rescue operations is strongest in Norway – 60 percent of Norwegians are in favour of funding rescue efforts in the Mediterranean.

By contrast, Finland has the weakest support by far – only 39 percent of Finnish respondents said they would support funding for search and rescue efforts in southern Europe. French nation is deeply divided on the issue as 39 percent are in favour whereas 38 percent are not in support of rescue efforts for migrants.

The people of UK, Sweden, Germany and Denmark are more supportive on helping Mediterranean migrants by funding a search and rescue operation.

This chart shows the results of people polled on whether European countries should fund a search and rescue operation.