News / EU

Italy refugees financing 600,000 pensioners: Report

Wednesday, 09 March 2016 2:18 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 09 March 2016 2:17 PM ]

Refugees receive aid in the port of Piraeus, after their arrival from the Greek islands of Lesbos and Chios on February 24, 2016. (AFP photo)

A recent research shows asylum seekers and refugees arriving in Italy from outside the European Union provide enough social contributions to fund hundreds of thousands of Italian pensioners.

According to figures expected to be released in Italy’s 2015 Legal Yearbook on Thursday, non-EU asylum seekers or refugees paid some eight billion euros into the country’s welfare coffers in 2014, while only taking three billion euros out of pensions and other benefits.

The figures collected by the review’s editor, Roberto Garofoli, suggest the amount is enough to finance 600,000 annual pensions in Italy.

The official data show these refugees were responsible for establishing nearly one in five or 18.1 percent of new companies registered in the country in 2014.

His research concluded that non-EU refugees contributed 6.8 billion euros in income tax and were proportionately more likely to register for value-added tax payment in comparison with any other community in the society.

Over 230,000 asylum seekers and refugees arrived in Italy in 2014 and 2015, with most of them being rescued by boats off Libya.

Over the past few years, some four million refugees have arrived in Italy from countries outside the EU such as Albania and other parts of eastern Europe, North Africa, China, South Asia, and the Philippines.

This comes as Europe is also facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Many blame support by some Western countries for militants operating in the Middle East as the main reason behind the departure of refugees from their home countries.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk