Euro survey reveals attitudes to diversity
A survey carried out across the EU has found that the Italians are the most attuned to homophobia, while Swedes are the quickest in the European Union to embrace the concept of the multi-cultural society.
They are also among the least satisfied with efforts to combat discrimination, according to a new Eurobarometer survey.
Some 73 percent of Italians thought discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was widespread, the highest figure in the EU.
The EU average was 50 percent.
In Sweden, 86% of those asked in the survey took the view that ethic minorities enrich the country’s culture.
Fewer than 4 out of 10 respondents shared this opinion in Malta (32%) and Cyprus (39%).
Yet in an apparent paradox, a mere 28 percent of those asked said that enough was being done to tackle discrimination in Swedish society – only Poles were less satisfied.
Eurobarometer asked people across the EU whether they thought discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race and religion was common in their own countries.
