Migration to the EU: a survey of first-line practitioners during COVID-19

This data base was created from responses to a survey designed and carried out by the project PERCEPTIONS, a European Union Horizon 2020 funded project (Grant Agreement No. 833870). The project examined how Europe and the EU are seen by people who have immigrated there or intend to do so. It examined what perceptions of Europe exist among migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, how they are formed, whether they correspond to reality and how they influence migration decisions. It also examined how the flow of information could be distorted and whether inaccurate information could lead to a threat to the security of migrants (e.g. through dangerous border crossings) or even national security (e.g. through radicalisation).

The survey was carried out with first-line practitioners, defined as professionals who have contact with migrants in their work. It was distributed between October and December 2022 and received 788 responses. Participants could take the survey in 11 languages (Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Romanian and Spanish) and responses were received from 17 different countries (Austria, Algeria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Serbia, Spain, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom).                                           

The survey aimed to explore perceptions of Europe that first-line practitioners observe among migrants, how practitioners believe inaccurate information may influence migration, and the impacts of COVID-19 on the field of migration-related work.

A report summarising the results of the survey can be accessed here.