EXPO REAL: If the migrant crisis in Europe is not properly dealt with the continent’s economy and real estate market will suffer according to experts at Estates Gazette’s Global Real Estate Debate at Expo Real.
“We need to deal with the migrant crisis together. It is a huge challenge and it will fuel the fire of the UK and its [in/out of the EU] referendum,” said Andy Watson, chief investment officer for continental Europe, LaSalle Investment Management.
In order to deal with the social impact of the migrant crisis, stimulate growth and help economies flourish European countries should reconsider their border policies the panel suggested.
“The difficulties for the continent are, there is talk about migrants and policies but it’s just not enough,” said Martyn McCarthy, executive chairman of Valad Europe.
“If population growth isn’t significant and countries don’t change their policies there is a serious risk of Japanese-like stagnation of economies across Europe. Germany has similarities to Japan in being a strong economy but it has an ageing workforce and actually it doesn’t have a great [open] migration policy.”
To hear from Thomas Mueller, managing director & portfolio manager of European Real Estate at Blackrock on his wish to see an interest rate rise and Neil Dovey, international head of investment at Bilfinger GVA on the attractions of the UK’s regional markets listen to the podcast below.
