The Ukraine conflict - a migration challenge for Europe
The conflict in Ukraine is producing the largest numbers of displaced people seen in Europe since World War II. What does this mean for European countries?
As a result of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Europe is facing the largest movement of displaced persons since World War II. By March 8th 2022, only 12 days after the escalation of hostilities, already more than 2 million Ukrainians had left the country and undoubtedly many more have been displaced within Ukraine itself. This already dwarfs the numbers seen over the whole of the historic 2015 European migrant crisis. The UN estimates that more than 4 million Ukrainians may seek refuge in nearby countries as a result of the conflict.
Both the underlying conflict and the resulting movement of people will have dramatic implications for European countries, and it is crucial that governments understand the situation and the policy options available to them. The consequences of such a large and sudden influx of migrants on public services, government finance, political stability, and labour markets are complex but critically important.
Data and analysis on this rapidly evolving situation is difficult to come by. As a leading research centre on migration economics, CReAM is particularly well situated to collate background information about refugee migration and Ukrainian migrants, real time data on migration flows and their effects, and to provide expert analysis of the state-of-the-art scientific literature on refugees and migration policy.
Sources: UNHCR flash update