The EU is grappling with a looming crisis that has slipped under the radar amidst the chaos of geopolitical instability: a severe labour shortage, worsened by accelerating demographic decline. This is not just a workforce issue—it is a threat to the very fabric of Europe’s future. As populations dwindle, particularly in peripheral regions, the labour deficit grows more alarming by the day.

Drawing on best practices and informed by the current political and socio- economic landscape, this policy brief argues that attracting young global talent, particularly through education, is no longer a choice but a necessity to combat depopulation and ignite economic revival. This policy brief sets forth urgent recommendations which include establishing clear migration targets, strengthening reskilling and civic–linguistic training programmes for migrants, fully digitising migration-management processes and fostering cooperation with source countries. Together, these measures should aim to build a compelling ‘European Dream’, attracting and retaining the skilled individuals essential for the continent’s future prosperity.