Attitudes towards Impact of Refugee Migrant Crisis in Serbia's Municipalities

1. TNS Medium GallupAttitudes towards the Impact of the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Serbia’s MunicipalitiesMarch, 2016

2. Contents

3. 1 Introduction and summ

4. About the survey Two quantitative surveys were conducted simultaneously, targeting two distinct groups: general population (18+) and local administrationrepresentatives. Key findings from both studies are presented in the report.

5. Summary • Key findings • Negative attitudes towards migrants prevail among citizens in targeted municipalities, supported with safety concerns. General ambivalence is mostly based on lack of information and mixed feelings (fears and solidarity). • Citizens are willing to help migrants by providing food and clothing, while not eager to accept them living permanently in their municipality and neighborhood, yet the least to accept migrants as guests in their homes. • In general, citizens are satisfied with the response of local municipality to migrant crisis, but less satisfied in the municipalitiesmore intensely affected by the crisis. • Safety and hygiene (water, sewage, waste management) in the municpalitties are perceived as most negatively affected by the migrant crisis. However, based on the large number of neutral answers, for both groups it was diffcult to assess issues related to the crisis. • Local representatives expressed needs for additional equipment and human resources to cope with the crisis, especially referring to the comunal infrastructure. • Recommendations • Strengthen local resilience of municipalities in Serbia to cope with the migration crisis through following actions: • Provision of humanitarian aid to migrants (accommodation, food, clothes, medical care), with a special emphasis on vulnerable groups (women and children), involving citizens. • Support municipalities moreaffected by migrant crisis,through the allocation of financial, technical and human resources for municipal infrastructure (water supply, sewage, waste disposal and transport). Also, the allocation of resources to crime prevention and the safety of citizens. • Ensuring of social peace and cohesion in the municipalities under stronger pressure of migrant arrivals: by informing citizens through the media with a view to developing a higher degree of solidarity with migrants, by informing local self-government officials through training courses, organization of public debates, etc.

6. 2 Overall socio-economic situation in municipalities

7. The most urgent problems in Municipality The majority of citizens believe that the poor standard of living and unemployment are the main problems faced by the municipalities in which they live. Migration crisis is in top 5 issues in municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis. • General population • Local administration In your opinion, what ARE the most urgent PROBLEMS that is Municipality where you live faced? % SPONTANEOUS. MULTIPLE ANSWERS General population Local administration

8. Living standard • About 60% of respondents say that the current living standards of their families are mostly or very low. How would you describe living standard in which you and your family live right now? % General population

9. 3 Attitudes towards migration crisis and migrants

10. Awareness ofmigrant crisis • Citizens say that they are largely informed about the migrant crisis (53.5% well informed), while 44% say that they are not sufficiently informed. In the municipalities that are most intensely affected by the migrant crisis, citizens less frequently say that they are well informed, compared to municipalities moderately affected by the crisis. How well are you informed about migrant/refugee crisis overall? % General population

11. Awareness ofmigrant crisisGender split • Women have said that they are less informed about the crisis than men, which is consistent with greater reluctance of women with respect to the majority of questions about migration, compared to the male population (a higher percentage of "don’t know/no answer"). How well are you informed about migrant/refugee crisis overall? % General population

12. Attitudes towards migrants entering Serbia • Neutral attitudes prevail, with tendency to negative opinion. The better informed the citizens are, the more positive their opinion on migrants is, while less informed individuals are more likely to have a negative or neutral opinion of migrants. In general, what is your attitude towards migrants/refugees entering Serbia? % General population

13. Citizens attitude towards migrants entering Serbia:Šid and Preševo • In Šid prevails negative and in Preševo neutral attitude towards migrants. General population

14. Reasons for migration • Citizens understand reasons for migration: War and lack of safety are most frequently perceived as reasons among general public. Better living standard is perceived as second most important reason. General population

15. Final destination for migrants • Most citizens believe that developed EU countries are the final destination of migrants (62%); about one quarter of them think that part of migrants who fail in their attempts to reach the EU will remain in Serbia and the region, while a mere 3% of them think that Serbia is the final destination for migrants. General population

16. Difference between migrants from Middle Eastand former Yugoslavia • The level of identification of migrants/refugees from the Middle East with refugees of the '90s in the former Yugoslavia is partial. Half of the interviewed citizens believe that there is no difference between the then refugees and the current ones, while about a third (36%) believe the opposite. General population

17. Difference between migrants from Middle Eastand former Yugoslavia • National and cultural differences are most frequently mentioned. General population

18. No contacts with migrants • Most citizens (75%) did not have any direct contact with migrants. Contacts are more frequent in municipalities that are more intensely affected by the crisis. Citizens aremostly coming across migrants once a month or less, while in municipalities more affected by migrant crisis, these encounters are significantly more frequent – once or few times per week. General population

19. Largesocial distance • The closer the expected interaction is, the lower the level of willingness of citizens to participate in this interaction. General population

20. Citizens attitudes toward migrants: Šid and Preševo • To what extent would you be ready to engage in the following activities? % • In Šidcitizens areless willing to interact with migrants, opposite to citizens in Preševo. General population

21. Readiness to help migrants • Citizens are the most willing to help migrants by providing food and clothes. General population

22. The establishment of migrants accommodation facility in Municipality • Majority of citizens (63%) is against the establishment of an accommodation facility for migrants in their municipality. Would you oppose or agree with the establishment of an accommodation facility of migrants/refugees on the municipal territory? % General population

23. The establishment of migrants accommodation facility in Municipality:Šid and Preševo • In Šid, citizens are much more opposed to the migrants accommodation facility establishment in their municipality, compared to Preševo. General population

24. The establishment of migrantsaccommodation facility in close neighbourhood • Majority (70%) is against the establishment of an accommodation facility for migrants close to their home. Would you oppose or agree with the establishment of an accommodation facility for migrants/refugees in your neighborhood, close to your home? % General population

25. The establishment of migrantsaccommodation facility in close neighbourhood:Šid and Preševo • Citizens in Šid are even more opposed to the establishment of migrants accommodation facilityin their neighborhood, compared to Preševo. General population

26. Attitudes towards admission of migrants • Opinions are divided. About 46% think that Serbia should not accept permanent settlement of migrants, while 45% would accept some or all of them. In your opinion, should Serbia admit migrants/refugees permanently? % % % Total II group - municipalities moderately affected by the crisis I group - municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis General population

27. Reasons against the admission of migrants • Poverty in Serbia and cultural, religious and language differences are perceived as the biggest issues for accepting migrants permanently. General population

28. Attitudes toward migrants • Citizens are mostly scared for their safety, and the highest percentage of citizens believe that there are potential terrorists among migrants and refugees. General population

29. Cluster analysis of attitudes towards migrants Frightened 37% Humanists 14% Traditionalists 17% Very much concerned about their personal safety due to the increased influx of migrants, and they are especially concerned about the safety of women. They have strong fears that there are potential terrorists among migrants. To a large extent, this group of people believes that migrants would not fit into society, and that people should not even be sorry for them because they have enough money for their needs. Negative attitudes prevail. • More moderate and they believe that migrants should be accepted, but only those that will easily fit into society. Their attitudes are more conservative and they have more sympathy if migrants are of the same religion. Show the greatest solidarity with migrants, have the most sympathy and think that the utmost should be done to help the migrants because they need assistance. Neutral and positive opinions about migrants significantly prevail in this group.

30. Attitudes toward migrants: Šid and Preševo • Please rate your level of agreement with following statements? % General population

31. Estimation of average expenditures • According to estimations, a migrant/refugee spends on food, accommodation, transportation and other necessities between 37and 47 Euros on average,during his/her stay in the municipality. Based on your opinion/knowledge, how much an average migrant/refugee spends while staying in your Municipality per a day? Public administration: General public: General population Local administration

32. 4 Municipality situation and dealing with migrant crisis

33. Efficiency of Municipalities in dealing with migrant crisis • Citizens are mostly satisfied how municipalities dealt with the refugee/migrant crisis – 67% of respondents evaluated efforts of municipalities as successful. Was your Municipality successful in dealing with the refugee/migrant crisis in your municipality/city? % General population

34. Efficiency of Municipalities in dealing with migrant crisis • Local administration representatives are also satisfied with municipality efficiency during the migrant crisis. Was your Municipality successful in dealing with the refugee/migrant crisis in your municipality/city? % Local administration

35. Efficiency of Municipalities in dealing with migrant crisis Local administration

36. The rights of migrants and obligations of local authorities – Awareness • Regarding the level of information among local self-government officials, 67% is familiar with the migrants' rights and obligations of the municipality towards them. • Are you aware of the rights of migrants/refugees and obligations of local authorities? % Local administration

37. Functioning of municipalities during the migration crisis • According to opinion of both general public and local administration representatives, migrant crisis did not have significant impact on the regular daily functioning of the municipality. In general, to what extent has the migrant/refugee crisis affected the regular (normal) functioning of your municipality/town? % The most pronounced areas (total): Garbage collection (58%) Lack of human resources - staff allocated to deal with migrants (42%) General population Local administration

38. The impact of the migration crisis on municipalities General population

39. The impact of the migration crisis on municipalities: Šid and Preševo • In your opinion, how is the current migrant/refugee crisis affecting…?% General population

40. The impact of the migration crisis on local finances • When it comes to finances, in most of the municipalities (74%), financial stability has not been undermined so far by the opinion of local administration. There were some major challenges in municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis, but they were successfully solved with help of donations and Government. Local administration

41. Plans for new budget • One in three municipalities that is more affected by migrations are planning to introduce expenditure items for migrants in the new budget. Have you been planning to introduce expenditure items in the new budget that pertain to accommodation and treatment of migrants/refugees? % % % Total sample II group - municipalities moderately affected by the crisis I group - municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis Local administration

42. Benefits of the international financial support • International financial support is perceived useful by vast majority of local representatives. THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MIGRANTS : According to your information, how useful is the international support/donation aimed to migrant/refugee crisis in your Municipality? % Local administration

43. Awareness about the international financial support/donation • The majority of citizens (72%)have not heard of the international aid programs channeled to their municipality and intended for the migrant/refugee crisis, against 19% of those who have heard about them in general. Higher awareness among respondents from municipalities that are more intensely affected by migrations. Have you recently heard about any international financial support/donation to your Municipality aimed to help migrant/refugee crisis? % % % Total sample II group - municipalities moderately affected by the crisis I group - municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis General population

44. Benefits of the international financial support • Majority of citizens (75%) believe that international support aimed to migrant crisis is useful. THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD ABOUT INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MIGRANTS : According to your information, how useful is the international support/donation aimed to migrant/refugee crisis in your Municipality? % General population

45. Cooperation between municipality and central authorities • Cooperation between municipality and central authorities dealing with migrants/refugees is perceived as successful by majority of local representatives (82%). How would you evaluate the level of cooperation between municipality and central authorities dealing with migrants/refugees? % Local administration

46. Cooperation between municipality and local institutions • Cooperation between municipality and local institutions dealing with migrants/refugees is also perceived as successful by majority of local representatives (83%). How would you evaluate the level of cooperation between municipality and local institutions dealing with migrants/refugees? % Local administration

47. Local migration body • Majority of local representatives(68%)stated municipalities haveestablished local migration councils. • Has your municipality/city established a local migrations body? % % % Total sample II group - municipalities moderately affected by the crisis I group - municipalities more intensely affected by the crisis Local administration

48. Local migration councilefficiency • Majority of local administration representatives (75%) are satisfied with efficiency of local migrants bodies. If your municipality/city has established a local migrations body, please rate, on a scale from 1 to 5, its efficiency and role in addressing issues caused by the migrant/refugee crisis in your municipality. % Local administration

49. Available programs and services for migrants Local administration

50. The impact of the migration crisis on local administration departments Local administration