Call for a Second EU Migration Pact: Revitalizing Rural Communities via Refugee Resettlement!
This week’s European Commission proposal for a “pact on migration and asylum” focuses mostly on stemming irregular migration at EU borders. It thus largely forgets to address Europe’s share in responsibility for the millions of refugees who cannot show up to ask for asylum there. A second "resettlement pact" is therefore urgently required to relieve pressure from countries like Turkey , Lebanon and many others , which currently take care of an unevenly high number of displaced people. Voluntarily relocating more refugees does not have to be a burden for Europe, it can actually create great synergy. A strong reduction of the share of agriculture in the economy and a lack of viable job alternatives for young people has left many smaller rural European communities depopulating and aging. To establish a new equilibrium, powerful diversification to non-agricultural activities is required. Meanwhile, Internet-based work options and tele-services offer...