Source: European Parliament
1. The Commission provides statistics through Eurostat, including on migration[1] and crime[2], in accordance with the applicable Regulations and does not collect data as referred to in the Honourable Member’s question. Eurostat focuses on criminal offences as set out in the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes.
2. Research[3] has revealed different aspects that do not allow for the assumption of a causal link between migration and crime[4]. Taking only a single factor into account creates a biased image[5] and would be misleading.
3. The Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in May 2024[6]. It provides for new tools to monitor the implementation of the Common European Asylum System, including a dedicated monitoring by the European Union Asylum Agency.
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/migration-asylum.
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/crime.
- [3] Research for example from the public research institute ‘Institut Convergences Migrations (IC Migrations)’ https://www.icmigrations.cnrs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/4_Fiche-insecurite_V3.pdf and http://www.cepii.fr/BLOG/bi/post.asp?IDcommunique=982. Several media shared that research in the past years, for instance: https://www.tf1info.fr/politique/presidentielle-2022-peut-on-dresser-un-lien-direct-entre-immigration-et-delinquance-comme-le-fait-valerie-pecresse-2201402.html; https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/04/21/immigration-les-etrangers-pas-plus-delinquants-que-les-autres-selon-une-etude_6170487_3224.html; https://factuel.afp.com/doc.afp.com.34QB9EL.
- [4] For example, many condemnations are for misdemeanours and some misdemeanours are specific to foreigners when it is about the policing of regular stay in the EU and cannot therefore be representative of a comparison between nationals and foreigners.
- [5] Recent analysis by the ifo Institute has shown that ‘More foreigners do not increase Germany’s crime rate’ (press release of 18 February 2025 at https://www.ifo.de/en/press-release/2025-02-18/more-foreigners-do-not-increase-germanys-crime-rate). Media coverage includes the article ‘Study: Immigration has not raised German crime rate’ published by DW on 20 February 2025 at https://www.dw.com/en/study-finds-immigration-has-not-raised-german-crime-rate/a-71691228.
- [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1351/oj/eng.