A new report by Eurostat has found that Croatians feel safer than people in any other European Union nation, with only 1.4% of the population reporting anti-social activity. Lithuania and Poland ranked close behind Croatia. In contrast, Greeks feared the most for their safety with over 20% of citizens reporting crime. What is the common denominator?
Citizens in EU nations with stricter immigration policies feel safer than those with open borders or whose nations are situated as a landing point. Croatia cracked down on immigration policies this year, leading to a 70% decline in work permit approvals. Yet, that is not the population in question. Over 26,000 migrants passed through Croatia in 2024, but most continued on to other EU nations. The border with Bosnia is monitored with drones and an active police force. “Only 3.6% of the people who declared their intention to apply for international protection in the Republic of Croatia actually make a formal application,” the Interior Ministry in Zagreb told DW. “We have no information about the countries to which these people went.”
Then you have Greece, unfortunately, a landing spot for migrants arriving by boat. The EU Pact was intended to provide safeguards to migrants to streamline the process. Brussels provided Greece with over 5 billion euros in funding over the past decade to manage migration, but the off is no longer worth the risk. Greece finally took a hardline on migration in 2025 and began implementing harsh penalties including imprisonment and ankle tag monitoring for those awaiting deportation. The EU has accused Greece of violating international law by returning migrants to Turkish waters and operating detention centers. Yet, due to the extreme nature of open border policies, these measures were crucial to regain control over the nation.
The nations who openly welcomed migrants are facing the highest rates of migrant-related crime. Migrants tend to be lone males who do not integrate well into European society. Take Germany, for example, the hub for migrants thanks to Angela Merkel’s policies some ten years ago. Violent crime peaked to a 15-year high in 2023, and migrants were responsible for 40% of all violent crimes. Nationalist sentiments are growing throughout Europe because the people are experiencing the repercussions of open borders.