Original article (in Bosnian) was published on 9/2/2026; Author: Elma Murić
What are the claims?
The EU is signing a “mobility agreement” with India. Population replacement is no longer a conspiracy theory, but our reality.
What are the facts?
The “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory is based on the unfounded belief that migration is deliberately planned to alter the demographic composition of European countries.
In late January 2026, social media users shared a short video clip of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking about the planned strengthening of cooperation between the European Union (EU) and India in the field of mobility, claiming that it served as “proof” of the so-called “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory (1, 2).
In these posts, von der Leyen’s speech was accompanied by comments suggesting that the alleged population replacement would homogenize the world and erase differences, small cultures, and languages.
What are the facts?
At the 16th EU – India Summit, held on January 27, 2026, in New Delhi, the European Union and India concluded a historic free trade agreement. On the same day, the European Commission announced that the two sides had also signed an EU – India Security and Defence Partnership, launched negotiations on an information security agreement, and adopted a Comprehensive Framework for Cooperation on Mobility.
The European Commission explained the nature of this document:
(…) the comprehensive EU – India mobility cooperation framework, adopted as a memorandum of understanding alongside the finalization of the free trade agreement, offers an excellent opportunity to cooperate on facilitating labour mobility, supporting skills development and capacity building, and working on skills and qualifications frameworks. This framework will facilitate the mobility of skilled workers, young professionals, and seasonal workers in shortage sectors, while also promoting research and innovation.
It was also announced that the EU will support these processes by establishing a dedicated Legal Pathways Office to help workers, students, and researchers in India learn more about opportunities in Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also addressed the agreement in New Delhi, and a part of her speech (archived link) was also shared in our region. In the portion of her speech (archived link) shared online, she stated that cooperation in mobility would facilitate the movement of students, researchers, seasonal workers, and highly skilled professionals. She added that the Legal Pathways Office in India would serve as “a one-stop shop supporting Indian talent relocating to Europe, fully aligned with the needs and policies of EU Member States”.
Therefore, it is clear that neither the summit conclusions nor von der Leyen’s speech announced any form of mass relocation of India’s population to the EU. Rather, the agreement focuses on facilitating study opportunities and improving mobility for individuals whose qualifications match labor market needs in shortage sectors.
Workers from non-EU countries play a significant role in meeting labor market demands within the EU, and immigration has contributed to employment growth in recent years. In November 2025, the EU confirmed that “over the past decade, the share of working-age people born outside the EU has steadily increased”, and that since 2021, employment growth has been “driven by increased employment among people born outside the EU”. They also noted that foreign-born workers have helped address labor shortages in certain sectors.
The “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory
Although the EU’s mobility cooperation with India aims to facilitate these processes and, as von der Leyen put it, “support Indian talent” relocating to Europe, the agreement is in no way connected to the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory.
This xenophobic and racist conspiracy theory has been circulating for years. It is based on the unfounded claim that “global elites” are orchestrating the migration of people from Africa, the Middle East, and other regions to replace Europe’s white population and allegedly destroy European culture and traditions. The magazine “The Conversation” explained in a 2024 article that this theory evolved from a series of false ideas with roots dating back to the 19th century. The article states that it was later “formally structured” in the works of French writer Renaud Camus, particularly in his books “L’Abécédaire de l’innocence” (2010) and “Le Grand Remplacement” (2011).
According to Britannica, Camus has claimed, among other things, that Muslim immigrants in France allegedly show contempt for French society and cultural identity, and seek to replace its white Christian population.
Raskrinkavanje has previously addressed this conspiracy theory multiple times (1, 2, 3, 4), emphasizing that there is absolutely no evidence that immigration to Western countries is part of any plan to “destroy the white race” and/or “Western culture and tradition”.
Fact-checking organizations Istinomer (Serbia) and Raskrinkavanje (Montenegro) also analyzed the viral claims from January 2026.Based on the facts, posts portraying EU-India mobility cooperation as evidence of a “great population replacement” are rated as a conspiracy theory.
