Migration: one of the most important challenges for Europe

Résumé du document

"The European population growth at a level of less than 3% per year [is] only possible through net migration?. Europe is indeed currently absorbing 2 million migrants each year ? proportionally more than any other part of the world. This influx is thus altering the population composition of member-states' with respect to birth/death rates and such demographic trends might well have major socio-economic implications in the future. Based upon this observation, Rafael Popper and Graciela Sainz's brief endeavored to present a comprehensive approach to this phenomenon conducted in a triple-perspective analysis.

Extraits

[...] Migration: one of the most important challenges for Europe European population growth at a level of less than per year only possible through net migration”. Europe is indeed currently absorbing 2 million migrants each year proportionally more than any other part of the world. This influx is thus altering the make-up of member- states' populations more than birth/death rates and these demographic trends might well have major socio-economic implications in the future. Based upon the latter observation, Rafael Popper and Graciela Sainz's brief endeavors to present a comprehensive approach to this phenomenon conducted in a triple-perspective analysis. [...]

[...] Secondly, political reasons are becoming more and more important with the EU enlargement process since the latter makes the EU appear as an area of cultural interchange. Multiculturalism, tolerance and open-mindedness may therefore be conceived as part of Europe's attractive characteristics. Then, the brief takes into account what might be defined as postmodern rationales, amongst which rank environmental (water conflicts, climate change, pollution ) and a new type of ethical drivers (peace, welfare and education instead of wild consumerism). Major SWOTs On the one hand, migratory processes in the EU present undeniable advantages for they involve both low-and high-skilled migrants and make the acceleration of transnational exchanges possible. [...]

[...] Thanks to a semantic analysis, it led to the creation of a word file that gathers selected original information from the initial studies. Reasons and Justifications From a European standpoint, welcoming immigrants is prominently justified by the shrinking of a young and active workforce and the migration of the better-off to rural/peri-urban areas. Increase in life expectancy and lower fertility rates are indeed leading to a stagnating EU; for instance, 2050, it is expected that the EU will change from having four to only two persons of working age for each citizen aged 65 and above.” From migrants' point of view, the European area has become an attractive destination in the last decades. [...]

[...] The various trends, threats or possible response pedagogically grouped into specific categories throughout this brief are undeniably interpenetrating phenomena also affected by other dynamics. Therefore, to implement appropriate policies, the Commission and the Member States must work together to boost Europe's response to the challenges ahead. A long-term commitment from all sides will be required. No single Member State can successfully tackle this constantly evolving challenge on its own. Bibliography Migration: One of the Most Important Challenges for Europe, Rafael Popper and Graciela Sainz, University of Manchester, Feb. [...]

[...] However, migratory processes represent strong opportunities for Europe as well. Alongside with an increased European birth rate, migration can be a solution for the ageing population. Migration is also a powerful tool for multilateralism: by introducing diversity into workplaces, it improves the understanding of one another. Such a process is also financially interesting since it increases national workforce and tax revenue and reduces the fiscal pressures. Policy Options In the last section, Popper and Sainz propose possible policy options developed in recent foresight studies. [...]