Berlin ( CNN ) The horrific twin attacks in Paris last week have sent shockwaves throughout Europe . Political leaders from across the EU joined millions of French mourners on Sunday , and Europeans-at-large continue to pay tribute with public vigils , flowers and candles , and minutes of silence . Yet this outpouring of solidarity must not obscure another response across the continent . Leaders of Europe 's far-right have been quick to blame Islam and immigration , mosques have been defaced in France and elsewhere , and a xenophobic movement called `` Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the Occident '' brought tens of thousands to the streets of Germany this week . This extreme strand of European publics and politics will likely receive a boost from the French tragedy . Anti-immigration and anti-Islamic sentiments have been on a steady rise in Europe for years . While a majority of Europeans appreciates mobility and migration within the European Union , they are largely negative about immigration from outside of the EU , according to the latest Eurobarometer survey . This opposition is particularly pronounced towards Muslim immigrants . Half and more of all Europeans view Islam as incompatible with the Western world , while Islam is seen as an outright threat by between one-third of all Brits and almost two-thirds of all Spaniards , according to a recent Bertelsmann study . Holders of such views will surely see the Paris attacks as confirmation ; many others may now question their hitherto more moderate opinions . It is these sentiments , along with fears over economic prospects , aversion to the political establishment and doubts in the European project , that populist and typically far-right parties have successfully tapped in recent years . Virtually every EU country has seen the rise of such a political force , and their combined representation in the European Parliament has shot up to 20 % in last year 's elections . For these parties , the Paris attacks truly are a `` told-you-so '' moment . Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom Independence Party blamed `` a fifth column within our countries , '' while Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party in the Netherlands claimed that it was time to `` de-Islamize our country . '' Marine Le Pen of the French Front National urged that `` time 's up for denial and hypocrisy , '' and Alexander Gauland of the Alternative for Germany saw all those proven wrong who had ignored the Islamist threat . Sadly , these slogans are more likely than ever before now to resonate with European publics . This combination of a considerable portion of Europeans that are skeptical of , if not outright hostile to , Muslims and migrants , and the ever more aggressive rhetoric of the populist far-right puts a massive pressure on Europe 's politics and societies alike . First and foremost , Europe 's Muslim communities are likely to suffer . Although in their overwhelming majority , they are integrated and identify with Europe , blanket suspicion against Islam , resentments in day-to-day life , and assaults on their community are bound to increase and deepen fear and alienation among Muslims . This will feed segregation among Muslim and non-Muslim communities , and provide a fertile ground for the radicalization of some young Muslims . In short , European Muslims are at risk of being driven away from mainstream European societies . Secondly , the political climate and culture in Europe will change . Under attack from extremists , whether in parliament or in the streets , mainstream political parties will be tempted to move away from their typically centered , whether somewhat to the left or right , positions . Politics will move to tighten immigration laws , select highly-skilled migrants over refugees from war zones , push for their greater assimilation , and install additional security measures . As a result , further liberties of European citizens are likely to be sacrificed as political establishments try to preempt a further growth of extremist parties . This is a slippery slope , as radicals will quickly produce the next phobia that they demand to be addressed . Thirdly , this changing climate and politics will also impact on migration and migrants broadly , beyond Muslims . Already there have been fierce debates to limit intra-European migration , whether hurdles to Central and Eastern Europeans after their countries joined the European Union , or restrictions on social benefits EU citizens can draw across borders . Much as these debates are already taking their toll on some of Europe 's poorest , such as the Roma , future approaches to immigration to the EU will likely exclude some of the world 's most underprivileged , such as asylum-seekers . Fortress Europe will become even more of a reality . Europe can still stem this dangerous trend . Millions of French people , of all origins and faiths , have given a powerful example of unity , openness and inclusiveness last week , as have tens of thousands of pro-tolerance and pro-immigration marchers in Germany this week . It is now also on Europe 's political class to resolutely refute the many `` told-you-so 's '' on the continent . READ : Attack will empower Europe 's far right .
Leaders of Europe 's far-right have been quick to blame the United Kingdom Independence Party and immigration for the Berlin attacks . Europe 's Muslim communities set to suffer , Forbrig says , as politicians question hitherto moderate opinions . Radicals will quickly produce the next phobia that they demand to be addressed , Joerg Forbrig writes .