LONDON — The indigenous population of Western Europe is aging and declining. Some countries such as Italy have net reproduction rates similar to that of Japan. Others such as Sweden have rates nearer equilibrium. Some countries such as Britain expect a significant increase in their population, thanks to immigration.
A major proportion of Britain's immigrants are from the new East European member countries of the European Union. Attitudes toward immigrants vary considerably from country to country, and depend on such factors as the skills and behavior of the immigrants. Unfortunately some individual attitudes are affected by racial and religious prejudices and by jealousy.
Immigrants into Western Europe can be broadly divided into those from other parts of the EU and from outside the EU. Britain at first took a liberal stance toward immigrants from Eastern Europe, and there was a considerable influx, especially from Poland, of skilled workers attracted by higher wages in Britain and a demand for their skills.