The European Union must increase legal migration by up to one million people per year to compensate for losses in its aging workforce, the bloc’s home affairs chief said on January 8th.
Speaking during a visit to Athens, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stated that legal migration flows need to expand in an “orderly way” to address labor shortfalls across the 27-nation union.
“Legal migration works very well, but it’s not enough,” she affirmed. “The EU workforce is shrinking by 1 million people a year. That means that legal migration should grow more or less by one million per year.”
Funds Earmarked to Aid Border Protection, Migration Efforts
Johansson’s remarks coincide with the announcement of an additional €2 billion in EU funding through 2027 to support the implementation of new migration and asylum policies.
The pledge came from European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, who emphasized member states like Greece as major beneficiaries.
“This means direct practical support for Greece at the external borders, including equipment, personnel, and information systems,” Schinas said.
Nearly half of the supplementary budget will go towards border control infrastructure and technology under the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The remaining portion will be allocated over the next two years to facilitate member states’ migration and border initiatives.
Labor Gap Drives Push to Expand Legal Migration Channels
The urgent appeal to expand legal migration reflects intensifying labor shortages within the EU economy.
Johansson noted that the bloc requires a steady influx of migrants to compensate for the one million workers leaving the labor force annually.
“Does that mean we have solved all the challenges? Of course not. There are so many more,” she conceded. “But this is proof that when we work together we can manage a great deal.”
The European Commission has stressed migration’s indispensable role in sustaining the EU’s demographic equilibrium.
Its projections point to a significant decline in the working-age population without immigrant flows.
PM Mitsotakis Champions Migration Progress
The European Commission’s renewed emphasis on managed migration drew praise from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Speaking alongside Johansson and Schinas at a migration conference in Athens, Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s success in curtailing irregular migrant entries compared to its European partners.
He contrasted current conditions on the eastern Aegean islands favorably against the state of affairs in 2019.
“In 2023, we managed migration flows more effectively than many of our partners,” Mitsotakis proclaimed.
The conservative premier described migration as an economic opportunity rather than an inherently divisive issue.
He advocated twin policy pillars: robust border security and expanded legal pathways for migrant workers.
“We can strike a balance; Greece can lead the way,” Mitsotakis asserted while conceding more work lies ahead.
New Pact to Streamline ETIAS Approvals
The European Commission’s expansive legal migration agenda holds major implications for the bloc’s ETIAS scheme which will launch in May 2025.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System will require visa-exempt non-EU citizens to obtain travel authorization before entering the Schengen Area.
The system aims to bolster security by screening applicants against crime and health databases.
Experts anticipate more streamlined ETIAS approvals with the New Migration Pact’s emphasis on attracting legal migrants.
The policy’s goals align with facilitating entry for legitimate travelers and workers.
Plan Places Onus on Member States to Align Immigration Policies
The New Pact on Migration and Asylum will also impact member states’ immigration policies.
The agreement puts pressure on national governments to strengthen external border controls while expanding legal migration opportunities.
As such, the plan’s success hinges on individual states’ willingness to align systems to improve the intake and retention of immigrant workers and families.
Expanding Legal Routes Still Leaves EU Facing Uphill Battle
The European Commission’s urgent call for expanded legal migration channels reflects acute EU labor shortages.
An additional €2 billion has been budgeted through 2027 to fund migration and border control efforts.
Greek PM Mitsotakis has positioned Greece as a standard-bearer in effectively managing regional migration flows.
Nevertheless, experts caution that fully bridging the EU’s yawning labor gap will remain an enduring challenge.