Experts expect a new flight record - and warn the EU against a knee-jerk reaction

Created: 2022-01-25 17:22

By: Stephanie Munk

Crises and poverty are driving people to flee to Europe.

Here a boat with refugees in distress on the Mediterranean Sea.

© Max Brugger/Sea-Watch/dpa

International crises, poverty, Corona: Experts expect immigration to Europe to increase massively in 2022 - and express a fear.

According to the Viennese migration think tank ICMPD (International Center for Migration Policy Development), the trend of increasing immigration to the EU already observed in 2021 will continue this year. There are signs that the year 2022 will be particularly crucial for development in the coming years, said ICPDM Director Michael Spindelegger.

The institute assumes that, among other things, the situation in Afghanistan* and Syria and the insufficient economic growth in Africa are driving people to migrate. The corona pandemic* also plays a role. “The good health care in Europe is an attraction for illegal immigrants. Vaccination is free in the EU. This is very attractive for refugees from Africa, Latin America and Asia. Therefore, we expect an increase in illegal immigration,” ICMPD head Michael Spindelegger told

. In 2021, almost 200,000 migrants illegally crossed the borders to the EU - that was an increase of around 57 percent compared to 2020 and 38 percent more than 2019, the think tank announced on Monday in Vienna.

Many EU countries want to present themselves as hardliners when it comes to migration

The important elections, which will take place in 2022, would show how Europe reacts to the increasing migration, it said.

In the upcoming elections in France, Italy, Hungary and Serbia, among others, the issue of migration will play an important role.

France's attitude in particular will be groundbreaking.

In contrast to the traffic light coalition in Germany, which promotes more solidarity*, according to the ICMPD, many candidates in other EU countries are trying to distinguish themselves with a tougher migration course.

The EU states would have to consider that by 2050 the number of people able to work would fall by 13 percent.

The Corona crisis has already shown that the EU also needs workers from outside its borders.

Michael Spindelegger, head of the migration agency, told the

that the EU finally agreed on a common migration strategy.

"I regret that there is still no agreement on a common migration policy in the EU, although the German EU Presidency has tried everything," he said.

Founded in 1993, the think tank ICMPD with around 460 employees supports governments in finding viable solutions to the challenges associated with migration.

The Center has 19 member states.