Governments across Europe face growing pressure to restrict immigration as public opinion hardens and anti-immigrant parties make headway. The most recent European Parliamentary elections in May 2014 saw gains for populist anti-immigrant parties, including outright victories for the French National Front and United Kingdom Independence Party.
This poses an acute dilemma for governments: how to prevent an anti-immigrant backlash without undoing the benefits of free movement within the European Union, as well as immigration into it.
