EU seeks 1 million legal migrants yearly
ATHENS, GREECE — The European Union (EU) aims to increase legal migration to around one million workers annually to address intensifying labor shortages driven by its rapidly aging workforce.
“The EU workforce is shrinking by 1 million people annually. That means legal migration should rise by about 1 million per year,” stated EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson during a recent visit to Athens.
The urgent appeal reflects intensifying workforce shortages across the EU economy. Johansson noted the need for a steady influx to compensate for the million workers leaving the labor force each year, especially as more green and digital jobs demand new skills.
The Commission has stressed migration’s vital role in sustaining the EU’s demographic equilibrium, cautioning of a significant decline in the working-age population without immigrant flows.
Alongside expanding legal routes, Johansson urged crackdowns on illegal migration and human smuggling. She advocated for a “global alliance” to combat the criminal networks facilitating dangerous irregular crossings.
The Commission’s strategy aligns with recent efforts to outsource migration management to third countries. It has signed accords with nations like Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt to harbor migrants externally while expanding legal avenues.
Critics argue such externalization deals violate prohibitions on collective expulsion under international law. They also question the premise that outsourcing deters migrants when flows persist despite existing restrictive policies.
With its workforce shrinking, the EU recognizes immigration is essential. Yet debates continue around balancing migrant workers and outsourcing amid rapid demographic shifts.
