WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/03 by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission. Commission communication on immigration, integration and employment — economic role of immigration.
Date: 2003-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU migration policy, budgetary equilibrium, economic analysis, economic consequence, employment policy, foreign national, immigration, integration of migrants, population ageing

C 70 E/170

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2937/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Commission communication on immigration, integration and employment (cid:1) economic role of

immigration

In its communication on immigration, integration and employment (1) the Commission refers to studies
from across the world confirming that immigration has a number of positive effects on the economy
(p. 10).

Has Commission also consulted studies arriving at the opposite conclusion? For instance, the recent study
on ‘Immigration and the Dutch economy’ carried out by the Central Planning Bureau (CPB)
in the
Netherlands, which concludes among other things that ‘for all entry ages, however, immigrants turn out to
be a burden on the public budget if their social and economic characteristics correspond to those of the
(…) ‘The
present average non-Western residents. Accordingly, budget balances are affected negatively’
results indicate that immigration can not offer a major contribution to alleviate public finances, and thus
become a compensating factor for the rising costs for government due to the ageing of the population’.

At the request of the Senate, the Belgian Planning Bureau conducted a study in response to a note from
United Nations advocating massive new waves of immigration into Europe. Here too it was pointed out
that further immigration does not provide a solution to the ageing of Europe’s population, not least
because of the high cost of social security.

Is the Commission aware of these studies and will it take account of their findings when drafting new
measures in this area?

(1) COM(2003) 336.

(2004/C 70 E/179)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2938/03

by Philip Claeys (NI) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Commission communication on immigration, integration and employment

In its communication (1), the Commission says on page 10 that ‘the costs and benefits of immigration are
not evenly distributed’. On page 11 it goes on to say that ‘this does not exclude adverse effects on
particular groups or sectors. Empirical findings point towards the concentration of undesirable effects on
blue-collar workers in manufacturing industries and on unskilled labour in services’.

This is a serious problem, not least because of the size of the group concerned. It is primarily the most
vulnerable groups in our society that are hardest hit by the negative effects of immigration, not only in
socio-economic terms but also in other ways (alienation in whole areas of cities because local people
choose to leave, breakdown of social infrastructure, crime and so on. Although the Commission recognises
the problem it simply glosses over it.

What measures is the Commission proposing to tackle this problem?

Are any such programmes currently under way?

(1) COM(2003) 336.