Migratie: kans en bedreiging in een ouder wordend Europa (en)

By 2060 the population of Europe will have dropped by almost 79 million. There will be less Europeans, not just overall but also proportionally. In 1900 the population of Europe made up 25% of the world’s population, while according to forecasts, in 2050 this figure will have dropped to a mere 4 to 5%. Our closest neighbours will then be Turkey (100 million) and Egypt (114 million).

If it wants to maintain its economic growth and associated standard of living, Europe has to be open to immigration. Migration does not just relate to the movement of people within the European Union, but also from non-European countries.

The issue of migration from the perspective of Central and Eastern Europe was discussed for the first time during the conference The Social and Economic Consequences of Migration: Prospects for Central and Eastern Europe, held on 17thand 18thNovember in Warsaw.

The development experienced by Member States in Central and Eastern Europe since joining the EU means that the region has become not only a point of departure for those emigrating to wealthier countries in search of work, but also a destination for immigrants from “third” countries. Poland has simplified regulations concerning the acquisition of work permits for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova. In 2010, over 180,000 employer declarations were registered, allowing citizens from these countries to start short-term work in Poland.

As economic growth continues and the inflow of immigrants increases, Central and Eastern Europe will be forced to deal with problems surrounding the social integration of immigrants from outside the EU.

The concept of multiculturalism will have to be rethought and use will have to be made of the experiences of “old” Member States. Conference participants underlined that preparations have to be made today so that future challenges will not come as a surprise.

Issues surrounding the social costs incurred by countries in Central and Eastern Europe as a result of the growth in migration to “old” EU states were raised during the conference, including the topic of “euro-orphans”. This term is used to describe situations where parents’ economic migration causes the basic functions of a family to break down: interruptions in adapting to social interaction, a lack of emotional support for children and lack of cultural learning. It is estimated that this phenomenon affects approx. 110,000 children and young people below the age of 18 inPoland.

The conference was held under Poland’s Presidency of the EU Council in cooperation with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in Dublin. EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor i presented his viewpoint on migration by video link.