Ces Européens venus d'ailleurs

Europäer aus anderen Ländern

Europeans from Elsewhere

Europeos de otros lugares

Europejczycy spoza Europy

Europei venuti dall'estero

They have been living in the European Union for a few years or a few decades. Some have become citizens of their host country and will be voting in the European elections whilst others have just been granted refugee status. What do they think of Europe?

Ion Bunescu moved to France from Moldova with his family at age 8. Together, they set up a chain of grocery shops called Codru Moldova that sell products from Eastern Europe and opened up a restaurant under the same name. For the 32-year-old, the EU is a chance to import food products from other parts of the continent without hassle, but it’s also a sign of hope for his own country to one day become a member state.

Europeans from elsewhere

For Ion Bunescu, a Franco-Moldovan entrepreneur, the European Union is an opportunity.

Ion Bonescu the Franco-Moldovan entrepreneur

Malick Ceesay arrived in Italy as a minor from the Gambia. Now well-integrated, he runs an ice cream parlour in Palermo, but is still waiting for his residence permit. The young man dreams of becoming a photographer and travelling. But for now, as an immigrant in Giorgia Meloni's repressive Italy, he must wait patiently.

Malick Ceesay is a young Gambian man who runs an ice cream parlour, awaiting residency.

Malick the ice-cream maker in Italy

Saya Ahmad was born in Kirkuk, Iraqi Kurdistan. At the age of 7, in 1991, she fled Saddam Hussein’s troops with her family and settled in Austria. It was this journey of exile that gave rise to her political engagement. Now aged 40, Ahmad is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria and the mayor of the 9th district of Vienna. She dreams of a European Union that encourages more solidarity in the future, especially towards women and refugees.

Saya Ahmad fled Iraqi Kurdistan at age 7 and is now mayor of a Vienna district in Austria.

Saya the mayor of Vienna’s 9th district

Kirill Soloviev is a 46-year-old Moscow native who owns a company specialised in verifying large volumes translations. After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, he decided to set the company up in Tallinn, Estonia, where he lives today. Soloviev is enthusiastic about the EU and the opportunities it offers, even if he thinks the bloc could intensify its sanctions against Russia.

When his home country annexed Crimea 10 years ago, Kirill Soloviev decided to make a new home for himself in Estonia.

Europeans from Elsewhere

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Ion Bonescu the Franco-Moldovan entrepreneur

Malick the ice-cream maker in Italy

Saya the mayor of Vienna’s 9th district

Kirill Soloviev the tech entrepreneur in Tallinn