SUPPORTING IMMIGRATION FOR AN ENHANCED AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

Given the amplitude of migration in Europe and its potential to encourage or hinder the agricultural development, the general objective of this paper is to assess this possible potential on the long term, within a sustainable development frame of reference. Along these lines, we have built up several scenarios that focus on the agricultural results attained by ten EU Member States mainly targeted by immigrants, throughout the 2020-2025 period (sustainable development extrapolation). We have elaborated a set of indicators and within a panel in order to implement the spatial analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM), as methodological endeavour. The results obtained, verified by testing four hypotheses, show that a positive tendency in terms of increased government agri-innovation support is revealed on the long run, through the economic (labour) migration. Our findings outline that conclusive results of labour immigration could reverse generating unbalances in the agricultural sector. Thus, the need to develop accurate tailored policies is more than necessary by acknowledging the complex problems of the rural areas and those of international migration, as well as the major discrepancies among countries and stronger socio-economic interconnections.