Resolution 2586 (2025)1Provisional version

Immigration, one of the answers to Europe's demographic ageing

Parliamentary Assembly1. The Parliamentary Assembly notes that, in the past decade, the global refugee population has morethan doubled, reaching more than 36,4 million refugees, according to the data of the Office of the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In most cases, refugees in Africa, who were fleeing war,persecution and climate crisis, were not able to reach Europe or North America and took shelter inneighbouring countries. By UNHCR's calculations, in 2023, Uganda recorded 1,6 million people of concernincluding 1,5 million refugees. Another country, Ethiopia, which was at the crossroads of several of the world'slargest refugee crisis, was the host to over 900 000 refugees, and Chad, was the 10th largest host communityfor refugees with more than 700 000 refugees recorded in 2023. Most had escaped conflict in Eritrea,Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan.

2. Migration pressure has become a key issue for Europe. European solidarity to host refugees has beenlimited, but there have been some countries that have provided sanctuary. 3,4 million refugees are hosted inTürkiye including 3,3 million Syrians under temporary protection. Germany hosts 2,5 million refugees, whichlargely include people from Syria and Ukraine. Poland, as a country sharing a border with Ukraine,accommodates nearly 60% of all refugees from there. Sadly, however, there are countries that have refusedto contribute to the common effort of receiving asylum seekers.

3. The Assembly deplores the fact that the rising populist discourse blames migrants for public policies’failures. For political reasons, non-European migrants are left without any chance to integrate in a hostcommunity. Many countries in Europe are confronted with considerable changes due to population ageing andthe newly arriving migrants could, if given such an opportunity, integrate, work, and live decently in Europe,contributing like all other European citizens to strengthening the society they live in.

4. Europeans are living longer than ever before, and the age profile of society is rapidly developing. Dueto demographic ageing, the proportion of people of working age in Europe is shrinking, while the number ofolder people is expanding. Several countries experienced a worrying reduction in the youth and working agecohorts as opposed to the exponential growth of the number of retirees, many of whom were reaching thefourth age, often associated with dependency. This pattern will continue in the next few decades, as the post-Second World War baby boom generation completes its move into retirement.

5. At a personal level, physical and cognitive impairments brought on by ageing increase dependency.These impairments may lead to reduced mobility, resulting in increased vulnerability and, often, socialisolation and loneliness. The help of social care workers might be of vital importance in meeting olderdependent people’s daily transport or care needs and in ensuring a minimum of social contact, which,alongside healthcare, improves emotional well-being. It should be noted that long-term care in Europe is veryoften provided by informal carers such as family members and friends – mainly spouses and children, whosecare work is not recognised.

1. Assembly debate on 29 January 2025 (6th sitting) (see Doc. 16072, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugeesand Displaced Persons, rapporteur: Ms Kate Osamor). Text adopted by the Assembly on 29 January 2025 (6th sitting).

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