Schuman’s legacy deserves creative efforts to address migration

With far-right Eurosceptic parties building their influence on anti-immigrant rhetoric, it’s imperative to honor the monumental efforts made to ensure peace in Europe by creating together a more compelling story about migration, writes Fatemeh Jailani.

Fatemeh Jailani is the COO of SINGA, an international NGO working on accelerating the inclusion of newcomers. The opinion was written on behalf of the founding members of Starting New (SINGA, Forward Inc, Startup Migrants, and the Migration Policy Group).

To celebrate Europe Day, let’s remember the innovative spirit that laid the foundation of the EU, especially as we near the upcoming elections.

Seventy-four years ago today, Robert Schuman boldly proclaimed that “world peace cannot be secured without creative efforts matching the threats we face.” Back then, this led to the birth of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), bridging historical divides between France and Germany via economic cooperation.

Today, as populist and Eurosceptic political parties gain more traction in the upcoming EU elections via anti-immigrant platforms, we must ask ourselves: Have we put in the same level of creative energy to tackle the challenges of migration?

Mismanagement of the expanding phenomenon of migration poses a direct threat to the European project.

Even as public sentiments toward immigration remain steady, despite EU asylum applications jumping 18% last year, the perception of uncontrolled immigration, fuelled by concerns like the so-called Great Replacement theory, can still sway elections and incite non-parliamentary political actions, including violence.

Recognising the intricacies of immigration matters and articulating them clearly is crucial. This requires a holistic view that merges recent data with a critical analysis of untapped opportunities to craft a narrative more persuasive than the inflated unconstructive narratives endorsed by far-right parties.

By prioritising immigrants’ economic inclusion and their contributions, we propel the EU towards economic prosperity and solidarity as war rages on our borders and we also reinforce a more peaceful and compelling narrative.

Consider the facts:

Without immigration, the EU faces a significant population decline by 2050, leading to demographic imbalances and workforce shortages. To sustain a robust workforce, the EU needs to welcome at least 41 million immigrants over the next 25 years.

Additionally, the EU grapples with a severe talent shortage, affecting nearly two-thirds of small and medium-sized businesses, exacerbating ‘brain waste’ as millions of immigrants are overqualified for lower-paying, insecure jobs. This issue affects 47.5% of college-educated immigrants.

On a global scale, talent shortages cost companies over a trillion dollars annually across 30 of the world’s most developed economies, equivalent to $3 billion per day.

Consider the opportunities:

Despite facing numerous obstacles, immigrants have today demonstrated their capacity to build businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the economic vibrancy of the EU.

Over a decade, the proportion of self-employed immigrant workers in the EU doubled from under 7% to 12%. In Sweden, immigrant-owned firms lead in job creation, while in Germany, they outpace native-led businesses in growth, with 60% of Germany’s unicorns (i.e. businesses valued at more than USD 1 billion) having at least one immigrant founder.

Furthermore, their ventures often bridge local and global markets, introducing sustainable practices and reinforcing the development of SMEs – the EU’s economic backbone.

Consider the blindspots:

Immigrants encounter a host of challenges compared to native-born individuals, including language barriers, limited access to finance, job market discrimination, bureaucratic hurdles, and restricted networks. Yet, these obstacles often remain unseen or underestimated.

It’s crucial to highlight the lack of support and consideration for these issues. Immigrant-support or led organisations are currently tackling these challenges, but they operate with limited resources.

While these organisations provide innovative solutions, highlighting immigrants’ transformative impact on the workforce and entrepreneurship, they sadly lack the platforms to voice their insights and shape relevant policy responses addressing the needs and contributions of immigrant job seekers and entrepreneurs.

Consider the present with the past in hindsight:

Efforts to economically integrate immigrants echo with Schuman’s vision of European peace through economic unity, prioritising collaboration over exclusion.

Embracing inclusive strategies with the same vigor as border control measures would honour Schuman and Europe’s founding fathers, given the decisive role migration plays in European cohesion and peace.

Depoliticising migration is crucial and requires incorporating inclusion policies into broader EU initiatives.

The economic inclusion of immigrants hinges on integrating their interests into legislation aimed at bolstering the Single Market, SMEs, and Financial Institutions. While the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion is a promising stride, it falls short of fully addressing the magnitude of the issues hindering immigrants’ economic inclusion.

Consider the future:

Migration is poised to escalate alongside climate change, with 1.2 billion people expected to be displaced by 2050. The European Green Deal (EGD), heralded as Europe’s “Man on the Moon Moment,” is still primed to shape the continent’s future despite recent backlash.

Yet, it’s perplexing that immigrants are absent from the EGD narrative.

Overlooking the contributions of immigrants, who fuel economic growth but also fortify the circular economy and tackle social equity issues through their ventures and diverse perspectives, is akin to aiming for the moon without the aid of our earthly space travelers. It’s a missed opportunity of monumental proportions.

With the elections looming ahead, daring to imagine a tomorrow where immigrants are not just tolerated, but celebrated as one of the architects of the continent’s prosperity and solidarity could potentially set Europe on the fast track to the moon.

How sad would it be to Europe’s founding fathers if Eurosceptic parties shift the EU’s power balance in the Parliament, blocking pro-European initiatives for the next five years, and unravelling the unity and diversity behind the European Project?

There’s no point in discussing the EU’s common defence agenda if Europe disintegrates from within.

Don’t we owe it to Schuman to propose a more creative policy narrative on migration?