The FINANCIAL -- European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström and László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, have welcomed the OECD report International Migration Outlook 2012, published today.

Cecilia Malmström said: "If we want to fully benefit from the potential of migration, we need to continue to work with determination on a long-term, well-managed legal migration policy and effective integration policies. Europe is facing a long-term demographic challenge and a rapidly changing labour market. In order for us to remain economically competitive, we need to attract workers, in particular high-skilled workers, from third countries."

Commissioner Andor said: "The OECD report gives us a comprehensive picture on the impact of economic crisis on migration. At a time of intensified global economic uncertainty, it underlines several ways how governments can better respond to labour needs through migration and integration policies. The report also establishes a clear link between employment and migration. Mobile workers go where the jobs are. This is why I want to underline the potential of labour mobility to help to rebalance supply and demand in different EU countries' labour markets.."

The OECD report analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries. According to EUROPA, it underlines the central role of employment in the process of migrant integration in the host society and the need for concrete integration policies with particular emphasis on education, including language training, and actions promoting labour market integration.

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