But there is another dimension to immigration. Many European governments face a shortage of skilled workers in areas like information technology, and they have eased entry restrictions to attract qualified immigrants. Barbara Roche, the UK's immigration minister, has made it easier for non-British students to stay. Now we need to think about immigration management. And it is not only high- tech immigration that is wanted.
Some countries are short of cheap manual labour too.
In most European nations, people are living longer and having fewer children. Many governments have recognised they will not be able to fund their pension systems without large-scale immigration over the next two to three decades. Jean-Pierre Chevenement, the former French interior minister, said Europe will need 50 million to 75 million immigrants during the next 50 years to fill jobs. In Italy there were eight workers to every pensioner in the 1950s. There are less than four today and, without immigration, that number will dwindle to 1.5 by 2050.