Report Highlights “No-Go Zones” in Europe

A new report indicates that due to years of mass immigration policies and challenges in multicultural integration, Europe is home to nearly 1,000 “no-go zones” and many additional “sensitive” areas.

This report, issued by the conservative think tank New Direction Foundation for European Reform, estimates that between 900 and 1,000 urban areas can be classified as such, marked by rising crime rates, social fragmentation, and diminished state authority.

Authored by Maxime Hemery-Aymar from France’s Office of Immigration and Demography, the paper ties the trends of mass immigration and open borders to regions plagued by crime, eroding social norms, and the risk of Islamist terrorism.

Incidentally, findings reveal that 63% of Islamist terrorist incidents in Europe from 2010 to 2025 were linked to these identified exclusion zones.

The report describes Europe’s “sensitive areas” as vulnerable, where issues like community withdrawal and petty crime offer fertile ground for jihadist recruiters to operate.

There’s a clear link between demographic characteristics and the issues in these areas. For instance, certain exclusion zones have a foreign-born population estimated at 40%, contrasting with the EU average of about 20% and an urban average of 30%.

“The ratio of foreign-born populations in these zones is thus over 100% higher compared to other EU regions,” the report states.

Moreover, the increase in foreign-born populations seems directly connected to the rise of exclusion zones, indicating a troubling relationship between growing immigration and the development of these crime-heavy urban areas.

While some governments reluctantly acknowledge these exclusion zones—often using euphemisms—traditional media sometimes respond with skepticism, questioning the tangible nature of these realities.

The report notes the inconsistency in terminologies used across different countries, such as “priority urban areas” in France and “dangerous areas” in Germany, while suggesting standardized metrics to define a “no-go zone.” These measures could include crime rates, unemployment figures, youth gang presence, and reports of discrimination.

Furthermore, the report examines instances of state withdrawal, where police and emergency services might avoid these zones after attacks on officers or personnel, alongside the rising role of NGOs in these contexts.

These collected factors were assigned scores from 0 to 10, categorizing places from “low risk” to “significant no-go zones” that act as “de facto autonomous regions,” indicating a notable detachment from state control.

Among 17 regions analyzed, the Frans-Moisins area in Saint-Denis, France, received a high score of 10, followed closely by districts like La Castellane in Marseille, Molenbeek in Brussels, and Rosengard in Malmö—all rated at 9.4.

Interestingly, a link is drawn between Islamization and the emergence of exclusion zones in Europe, suggesting that the number of officially registered mosques correlates with such developments.

It’s acknowledged that some immigrants from specific regions struggle more with integration due to differing cultural norms around gender, education, religion, and civic engagement, which can clash with European liberal values.

The report also critiques programs aimed at helping low-income immigrants, noting that these initiatives often result in more societal divisions by concentrating immigrants in limited housing options.

To address these issues, the think tank advocates for significant immigration reform. This includes a reconsideration of family reunification policies, stricter residency and citizenship rules, enhanced police funding, and measures to encourage native residents back into urban centers.

Nicola Procaccini, who leads the New Directions and co-chairs the European Conservative and Reform Group, submitted this report to the EU parliament, emphasizing the urgent need to confront the existence of these enclaves. He stressed that failing to address these areas could risk the erosion of values central to European identity.

He remarked that those in power have often dismissed the “no-go zone” issue as a mere conspiracy, but the new evidence demands immediate action.