Six out of 10 migrants to Europe come for ‘economic reasons’ and are not refugees, EU Vice President Frans Timmermans says
More than half of all migrants to Europe are motivated by “economic reasons” and are not fleeing war or persecution, the vice-president of the European Commission has said.
Dutch politician Frans Timmermans said the majority of migrants to Europe are from North African countries such as Morocco or Tunisia, where there is no conflict.
“More than half of the people now coming to Europe come from countries where you can assume they have no reason whatsoever to ask for refugee status… more than half, 60 per cent,” he told Dutch broadcaster NOS.