Analysis estimates up to 1,000 high-risk urban areas across Europe, citing crime, integration challenges and weakened state control.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A policy report presented to European lawmakers estimates that hundreds of urban areas across Europe meet criteria for so-called “no-go zones,” citing elevated crime, social fragmentation and diminished state authority.
The findings come from a New Direction Foundation report titled “No-Go Zones, Immigration and the Rise of Parallel Societies,” which analyzed demographic, economic and security indicators across multiple European regions.
ND Report en-NoGo by yourNEWS Media
Authored by Maxime Hemery-Aymar of France’s Observatory of Immigration and Demography, the report estimates that between 900 and 1,000 areas across Europe could be classified under this category, with thousands more labeled as “sensitive neighborhoods.”
The study links these areas to long-term migration trends, stating that the development of such districts has coincided with increases in foreign-born populations and challenges in social integration.
According to the report, approximately 63 percent of Islamist terror attacks in Europe between 2010 and 2025 had a “verified link” to areas identified within its framework. The report states that “so-called ‘sensitive neighbourhoods’ in Europe remain fertile grounds where such vulnerabilities can be exploited: community withdrawal, perceived exclusion, and petty crime create a conducive context that jihadist recruiters know how to leverage.”
Researchers identified a demographic pattern in these areas, noting that the average share of foreign-born residents in the studied zones reached approximately 40 percent, compared to a European Union average of 20 percent and an urban average of 30 percent. The report states that this proportion is “more than 100% higher than in the rest of the EU.”
The analysis also points to what it describes as a correlation between rising immigration levels and the emergence of high-crime districts with reduced institutional presence, describing a “parallel dynamic between rising immigration levels and the progressive development of high-crime, state-withdrawn urban enclaves.”
To define such areas, the report developed a scoring system based on crime rates, unemployment, school dropout levels, gang activity and reported incidents of antisemitism, homophobia and gender-based restrictions. It also evaluated institutional factors, including whether police or emergency services face barriers entering certain neighborhoods, as well as the extent of non-governmental organization activity, which the report described as a “proxy for state retreat.”
Locations were ranked on a scale from 0 to 10, with the highest score indicating what the report termed a “de facto autonomous area” characterized by limited state presence. Among the areas analyzed, Franc-Moisin in Saint-Denis, France, received the highest rating, followed by La Castellane in Marseille, Molenbeek in Brussels and Rosengard in Malmö.
The report also highlights what it describes as a relationship between the growth of registered mosques and the emergence of these zones in France, stating that a “parallel trajectory can be observed” between the two trends.
It further notes that migrants from regions including the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and South Asia may face greater integration challenges due to differences in cultural norms related to governance, gender roles and social practices.
Housing policies were also cited as a contributing factor. The report states that social housing programs concentrating low-income migrant populations in specific districts may reinforce segregation and limit broader integration.
To address the issue, the report recommends changes to immigration policy, including limits on family reunification, stricter residency requirements and expanded deportation measures. It also calls for increased investment in policing and policies aimed at encouraging population balance within affected areas.
Presenting the findings at the European Parliament, New Direction President Nicola Procaccini said, in remarks delivered during the session, “if we allow these enclaves to grow, we are not just losing our streets, but also the very values of freedom and equality that define our civilisation.”
Procaccini added, “For too long, those in power, especially on the left, have tried to ignore the issue of no-go zones, claiming that it is nothing more than a right-wing conspiracy. Today, with data in hand, we are able to show that these places are tragically real and that the time to act to resolve the problem is now.”
The report acknowledges that terminology and classifications vary across countries, with governments using terms such as “priority urban districts” in France, “dangerous places” in Germany and “vulnerable areas” in Sweden, but argues that standardized criteria can better define areas facing overlapping social and security challenges.
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