The European Union is predicting that three million more migrants could arrive by the end of next year to the 28-nation bloc.
So far this year, more than 700,000 people have arrived in Europe seeking sanctuary or jobs.
The EU Autumn Economic Forecast, released Thursday, says that based on current migrant entries and a “technical assumption” about future flow, arrival rates are unlikely to slowdown by the beginning of 2017.
“Overall, an additional 3 million persons is assumed to arrive in the EU over the forecast period,” the commission said. It added that “the arrival of large numbers of asylum seekers” would require increases in public spending that could provide a economic lift.
The economic forecast also predicted slightly better growth for the next three years for the 28-nation bloc.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s vice president for the euro currency and social issues, said on Thursday in a statement accompanying the forecast that European governments must take “advantage of these temporary tailwinds” to deal with the migrant influx.
“This is important,” he said, “particularly against the backdrop of a slowing global economy, continuing tensions in our neighborhood and the need to manage the refugee crisis decisively and collectively.”
