OREANDA-NEWS Migration to European countries in 2023 will remain significant. This was expressed by Associate Professor of the Department of European Law of MGIMO, Director of the Center for European Information Nikolay Topornin. He called the consequences of the mass influx of refugees to the states of the European Union (EU).

As in 2022, the majority of those coming to Europe in 2023 will be from the territory of Ukraine, the political scientist believes.

"It is unclear how long the military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine will last. We see that the energy infrastructure is being hit, that is, the life of ordinary people is significantly complicated — there is no light, there is no heat, there is no water," he explained.

In the cold season, the flow of Ukrainian refugees will increase. This is the main problem that will be faced in the winter months. I assume that by April-May there will be an outflow back, and the situation in Ukraine will be quite stable.

In the last few years, many refugees from Middle Eastern and African countries have come to the European Union. In 2023, the number of migrants from there will be minimal, Nikolai Topornin believes.

We are talking about hundreds, maybe several thousand people who are trying to illegally enter the territorial waters by ships and barges, primarily Italy and Greece.

"After that, they will try to get further across the southern border. The European Union is taking active measures, strengthening the coast guard, border services, and patrolling. They are carrying out appropriate work with the same border services of African countries so that smugglers together with illegal immigrants are simply not allowed into the sea. I don't expect a significant increase in the flow here," the specialist noted.

You should not expect a large influx from Russia. The current state of affairs may be affected by a change in the logistics situation, Nikolai Topornin believes.

"Now, it seems to me, the flow is restrained by a purely infrastructural factor, that there are no direct planes. The land borders of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland are closed for Russians with ordinary visas. It's not so easy to get [to Europe] now," he said.

The greatest burden on the reception of migrants in 2023 will fall on the countries of Eastern Europe. Some of them are already reporting problems with placement. Nevertheless, the European Union will be able to solve this issue and distribute the load, Nikolay Topornin is sure.