Matthew Feeney on How Government Intervention Stifles Immigrants in Europe

Last week, European Commission President Jose
Manuel Barroso expressed concern over the rise of
nationalist, xenophobic, and protectionist rhetoric in Europe and
the possibility that populist parties could gain seats in next
year’s European Parliament elections.

Barroso’s concerns are well founded. Across
Europe, Eurosceptic and nationalist parties
have increased in popularity. Unfortunately for Barroso and
many of his fellow European lawmakers, the rise of ignorant,
populist, and sometimes violent xenophobic parties and movements in
Europe is to a large degree a consequence of government policies,
which, Matthew Feeney argues, do little to help promote social
cohesion and actually restrict the economic potential
offered by immigrants.  

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