18:07 4 July 2025
Europe Closes Borders Without a Plan to Attract Skilled Immigrants
European countries are tightening borders amid drastically declining birth rates, but lack coherent strategies to attract and retain skilled immigrants, warns the IMF and migration experts. With fertility rates in seven European nations at replacement level zero and birth declines exceeding 10 percent this year in five countries, labor shortages loom large.
Despite clear evidence that economic growth hinges on welcoming talented newcomers, few governments have developed legal, integrated immigration programs. As WISE Europa’s Maciej Bukowski states, “without invited immigrants on sensible integration tracks, we risk serious socio-economic problems and the long-term future of our nations”.
Poland, for instance, reinstates internal border checks with Germany and Lithuania from 7 July, framed as a move against illegal migration – yet experts emphasize that lawful, high-skilled immigration is critical to fill workforce gaps. Economies face demographic collapse without proactive talent policies, highlighting a growing disconnect between border control and economic needs.
(XYZ)
