A European Commission publication on Migration in the EU. In its introduction, the document says the EU has historically attracted millions of immigrants – most of them legal, but some not. “Immigration is both an opportunity and a challenge for Europe. Legal immigrants are needed to fill gaps in the EU labour force, as the EU’s own population grows older and its birth rate declines. However, the EU needs to curb illegal immigration and cooperate with other countries to arrange the return of irregular immigrants on a voluntary basis. The EU also has a duty to protect genuine asylum-seekers fleeing persecution or serious harm.”

 

The publication contains the following sections: