The European Union could admit up to 75m immigrants over the next half-century and must be prepared to become a racially hybrid society, according to a paper drawn up by France. Diplomats expressed surprise at the blunt language of the text, which avoids any suspicion of Anglo-Saxon political correctness to argue that with declining fertility and birthrates, the issue of legal immigration into the EU must be tackled. Public opinion needs to be enlightened and convinced, and more so in countries of recent immigration than others. Ensuring cross-fertilisation requires a careful and controlling hand, in immigration terms. Jack Straw, Britain's home secretary, is among those attending today's Marseille meeting, organised by France in its role as holder of the EU's rotating presidency.
Illegal immigration is one of the topics.
And across the continent, immigration has fuelled anti-foreigner sentiment in a range of countries including Germany, Sweden and Spain. Fears are widespread of a new influx from Poland and Hungary once they join the EU in coming years. Immigration is an increasing preoccupation for Brussels, but decisions are still made by member states, not the European Commission. The French document is based partly on a recent survey by the UN Population Division. That said the population of the 15 EU countries and countries currently bidding for membership would fall in the next 50 years from 729m to 628m while the world's population would grow from 6bn to 9bn.