Current:Home > InvestThe EU loses about a million workers per year due to aging. Migration official urges legal options -DataFinance
The EU loses about a million workers per year due to aging. Migration official urges legal options
View
Date:2025-04-14 13:32:26
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Union’s top official for migration said Monday that member states will have to confront tough policy challenges — even in the current election year – to cope with the continent’s aging population.
Ylva Johansson, the EU home affairs commissioner, said there was a pressing need to shift away from illegal migration and find more legitimate alternatives.
“For demographic reasons, the population of working age in the EU will decrease by 1 million per year. It is decreasing by 1 million per year,” Johansson said on a visit to Greece. “That means that legal migration should grow by more or less 1 million per year. And that is really a challenge.”
The EU Commission is trying to finalize an EU-wide overhaul of migration rules before the end of its term and European Parliament elections in June. A preliminary agreement was reached last month.
According to projections made by the EU statistics agency, Eurostat, the share of the population aged 65 or over will rise from 21.1% in 2022 to 31.3% by the end of the century.
Johansson was joined by the EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas in Athens for meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other officials.
Although concerns over migration have fueled support for far-right and anti-EU parties in many European countries, Johansson argued that the “poison and causing xenophobia and racism” was generated by illegal migration.
“I think what our citizens are really asking us is, not how many migrants (are arriving) but if we do this in an orderly way, how we manage it, who is in control or who is coming?” she said.
During Monday’s meetings, survivors of a migrant shipwreck that killed hundreds last year attended a small demonstration organized by Greek activist groups to protest tougher border and maritime policing which they argue puts migrants’ lives at greater risk.
Police blocked access to the area near the migration affairs ministry where Monday’s meetings took place but made no arrests.
___
Follow AP’s global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
veryGood! (368)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- 'Bachelor in Paradise' couple Kylee, Aven break up days after the show's season finale
- MI6 chief thanks Russian state television for its ‘help’ in encouraging Russians to spy for the UK
- EU remembers Iranian woman who died in custody at awarding of Sakharov human rights prize
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- State Department circumvents Congress, approves $106 million sale of tank ammo to Israel
- How 'Bout a Round of Applause for Rihanna’s Pearl-Embellished Look
- The real measure of these Dallas Cowboys ultimately will come away from Jerry World
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Are Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song Married? Why Her Ring Finger Is Raising Eyebrows
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Tricia Tuttle appointed as the next director of the annual Berlin film festival
- Singer Zahara, South Africa’s Afro-soul sensation and beloved ‘Country Girl,’ dies aged 36
- A Jordanian soldier is killed in a clash with drug smugglers along the border with Syria
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Secret Santa Gifts on Amazon That Understand the Assignment & They're Under $30
- Japan court convicts 3 ex-servicemen in sexual assault case brought by former junior soldier
- Patrick Mahomes apologizes for outburst at NFL officials, explicit comments to Bills' Josh Allen
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Can you guess the Dictionary.com 2023 word of the year? Hint: AI might get it wrong
Harvard faculty and alumni show support for president Claudine Gay after her House testimony on antisemitism
Baby boy killed in Connecticut car crash days before 1st birthday
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai lobbies UK foreign secretary for his release
Patrick Mahomes apologizes for outburst at NFL officials, explicit comments to Bills' Josh Allen
Bernie Madoff victims to get additional $158 million in restitution