Letting some of them in

摘要

Immigration has Europe in a pickle. With ageing populations and low birth rates, the European Union needs more people. But eu countries are already taking in plenty of foreigners (see chart), and many struggle to integrate. Popular resentment of immigration is increasing, and may rise further as economies slow and unemployment climbs. Meanwhile hundreds of illegal migrants risk life and limb on leaky boats to get to Europe every week. France's Nicolas Sarkozy has made immigration a centrepiece of the French eu presidency. As interior minister he took a hard line on immigration, which helped win him votes in the 2007 presidential election. The new "pact" on immigration and asylum, due to be adopted by an eu summit in mid-October, is his idea.