The latest report from the Eurostat agency shows that the natural balance of the European Union is negative for the third consecutive year. In 2017, there were 5.3 million deaths compared to 5.1 million births.
Nevertheless, there are 1.1 million additional inhabitants in Europe. This demographic variation is therefore exclusively due to the contribution of the migratory balance.
In October 2017, the European Union announced a true “Marshall Plan for Africa,” equipped with a new budget of 40 billion euros. The goal is to boost growth locally to create jobs on the continent and dissuade young Africans from emigrating to Europe.
Indeed, aid is necessary. But Europeans should understand that the time for paternalism is over and that the relations between the two continents must be redefined.
Europeans should understand that 440 million young Africans will be entering the job market over the next 15 years and that 375,000 young Africans are currently being educated in universities outside the African continent. This skilled workforce is already sought after by countries like China and India.
However, Europe is an aging continent with social systems as generous as they are costly. Without strong migration towards Europe, these social systems will not be sustainable.
The European Union has an essential need for skills transfer. It would be a mistake to close its borders…
