Best way to halt migration is to sabotage Europe’s economy – but nobody wants that, so what are the alternatives?

European policymakers face a challenge in balancing the need to curb irregular migration while addressing labor shortages in sectors like agriculture. Countries such as Spain and Italy require workers for harvesting, which attracts migrants. Sociologist Hein de Haas suggests that the demand for labor in Europe drives migration, stating that economic decline would be the most effective way to halt it, a notion unlikely to gain political support. Instead, governments are focusing on tightening migration controls, with Bangladesh serving as a notable case in this context.