International Migrants’ Day – 18 December 2023

Written by Anita Orav.

Each year, International Migrants’ Day is observed on 18 December. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly on 4 December 2000, in response to increasing migration around the world, the day aims to draw attention to migrants’ human rights and highlight their contribution to our societies.

Context

Migration and mobility are and will continue to be regular human phenomena, both globally and in the EU. On 1 January 2022, 23.8 million people (5.3 %) of the 446.7 million people living in the EU were non-EU citizens. Most migrants – approximately 2.25 million to 3 million per year – arrive in the EU using legal channels. However, wars and upheaval in neighbouring countries also trigger displacement of people and increased irregular arrivals of migrants.

Migration management in the EU

The EU and its Member States have shared competence in migration policy. In recent years, the priority accorded to migration has been reflected in the EU budget, with €22.7 billion allocated to migration and border policy over 2021 to 2027. Acknowledging that the EU has to move away from ad hoc solutions and put in place a predictable and reliable migration management system, the European Commission put forward a new pact on migration and asylum, which combines key EU policies on migration, asylum and border management and is still under negotiation. In addition, the Commission has initiated reforms to its legal migration policy by proposing a skills and talent package, which is intended to attract and retain highly skilled third-country nationals, and by creating the EU Talent Pool, which will match employers in the EU with jobseekers from non-EU countries. The objective is to help address critical labour shortages across Europe and to reply to the demographic changes. Research confirms that legal migration channels are a viable option to mitigate the issue of a declining EU workforce.

Honouring the contributions of migrants and respecting their rights

The International Migrants Day theme for 2023 is ‘Honouring the contributions of migrants and respecting their rights’, which was chosen to raise awareness of the issue of exploitation and to highlight migrants’ positive contribution to our societies. The European Commission asserts that legal migration is an investment in the economy and society. As regards public opinion, a special 2022 Eurobarometer survey reveals that the majority of European citizens (69 %) believe that actively promoting the integration of migrants is a necessary investment for their country in the long term. The EU action plan on integration and inclusion aims to address persisting barriers to migrants’ education, labour market and housing. The Commission observes that the ‘dynamic two-way [integration process] means not only expecting third-country nationals to embrace EU fundamental values and learn the host language, but also offering them meaningful opportunities to participate in the economy and society of the Member State where they settle’.

European Parliament position

The European Parliament has advocated a humane, solidarity-based and common approach to migration. In its resolution of 25 November 2021, taking into consideration that total labour supply in the euro area is projected to fall by 13 % (20 million people) between 2019 and 2070, the Parliament encouraged the development of adequate legal economic migration channels. The Parliament is currently in the process of interinstitutional negotiations on the Commission’s proposal to issue work and residence permits more quickly for third-country nationals and to improve their rights.

Read this ‘at a glance’ note on ‘International Migrants’ Day – 18 December 2023‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.