Refugee Integration in the EU: Challenges and Economic Impact

Abstract

This paper aims to bring attention to some challenges and economic aspects of the refugee integration in the European Union and address the integration of people granted refugee status and subsidiary protection as an essential factor for their acceptance by the local population and for the relief of the economic burden on all Member States. Failing to integrate the large number of refugees would put at risk the integrity of the EU and increase the gap in economic and social terms between natives and residents of third countries, creating a breeding ground for criminal and terrorist groups. In this context, the paper argues that without a thorough analysis of the local economy in the long term and without involving the local population in a transparent way in the integration of refugees, not much success will be made while the current challenges will persist and worsen.

The present study pays particular attention to the challenges of integrating refugees in Bulgaria where political actors use the refugee and migrant crisis for its own purposes, thereby creating tensions among the local people while regarding the country mainly as a transit one. Finally, the study is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of education for all refugee children and those who would like to pursue a university or higher academic degree, which thus are a suit to follow.

For the purposes of this paper a case study and statistical analysis have been used, while any data available after 1 April 2017 falls outside its scope.