Immigration is a win-win for European cities says latest research
Migrants within the European Union are on average likely to be younger, working and benefit the area they choose to move to, according to new research released today by Ernst & Young.
In the wake of Switzerland's vote to reimpose quotas on EU immigration, Ernst & Young found cities that welcome EU mobile citizens enjoyed a host of economic benefits.
The study examined six European cities, which were chosen for the multinational makeup of their populations: Barcelona, Lille, Dublin, Hamburg, Prague and Turin. The number of mobile EU citizens in the selected cities varied from two per cent to nine per cent.
In all of the areas studied the inflow of younger workers had a positive economic impact. Migrants tended to fill positions left vacant in local labour markets and helped to stem the problems associated with an ageing population.
The research cited Turin where migrants took up vacant low skilled jobs and Dublin where migrants gained employment in the IT sector.
The study also found that mobile EU citizens were often overqualified for the positions they took and earned less than nationals. EU migrants also tended to use less in the way of state services such as housing and schools.
One of the central criticisms of free movement across Europe has been that migrants place a greater strain on important public services. However, in the cities examined, this claim was far from the truth:
The overall evidence suggests that this situation is not placing major issues and burdens on the local communities or local public service
The study was presented at a meeting of more than a 100 mayors and local representatives from across Europe who met to discuss free movement within the EU.
Speaking at the conference, the EU's Commissioner for justice Viviane Reading, said:
Free movement is a benefit for Europe, its citizens and its economies. There can indeed be challenges in some cities which need to be addressed. It would, however, be the wrong response to question the right to free movement.