The migration to Switzerland has always depended on the economic situation. Bilateral agreements with the European Union and the consequent free movement of persons is responsible for a new phase in the migration issue, says Marcel Heiniger, an expert on population development in the Federal Statistics Office.
The first assessments show that the bilateral agreements did not increase immigration to Switzerland. Experts do not believe that major changes will occur in the future.
In European comparison, Switzerland is a country with the highest rate of foreigners: 20%. Germany has only 10% and 5% Sweden. Only Luxembourg and Liechtenstein have a larger number of foreigners in its population than Switzerland.
The foreign population is from the economic point of view, very important for Switzerland, as well as other industrialized countries in Europe. This fact is demonstrated through various studies and statistics. Work done by the United Nations as the "Replacement Migration" show that in the "old continent", is increasing the number of retirees relative to active population.
Switzerland does not escape this situation. Their birth rates would be low without the arrival of foreigners and their children born in the country, decreasing. In Canton Zurich, the increase in population of foreigners is due to the second generation who were born in the country. One quarter of foreigners living in Switzerland already belongs to the third generation.
By Tânia Batista
No comments:
Post a Comment