Eastwards EU enlargements and migration transition in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Most Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are net-emigration countries, in contrast to Western and Southern European countries, which usually represent net-immigration areas. The economic, demographic and legal outcomes of the 2004 and 2007 EU eastwards enlargements reshaped the migratory context in CEE in many ways. The article demonstrates, however, that in the decade (and more) that has passed since these enlargements, the changes in volumes and patterns of immigration to CEE have not been particularly substantial. This can be linked to the still relatively low economic attractiveness of the CEE region within the EU, and also to the importance of ethnic-based and local movements (but frequently from outside the EU after enlargements) in immigration to this region. These create a basis for, first of all, temporary and circular inflow. The article also acknowledges the diversity in developments in immigration within the CEE region.

Longitudinal and spatial perspectives on the mismatch of tertiary educated migrant workers in the Czech labour market: The case of Ukrainians

“…By contrast, for example, asylum seeker/refugee inflows have always been marginal. Despite many challenges, the Czech Republic has developed probably the most systematic way of migration and integration management (including involvement of the non-governmental sector): for further details, see Drbohlav et al, 2010;Drbohlav, 2012;Górny, 2017).…”

A hole in the wall of fortress Europe: The trans‐European posting of third‐country labour migrants

“…According to the Con3Post project, the main drivers of the posting of TCNs are labour market disparities between sending and receiving countries, established migration routes and an ever‐growing migration industry. Indeed, migration scholars have recently pointed to the transition of some CEE countries into net‐immigration countries (Górny, 2017; Maruszewski & Kaczmarczyk, 2020). Decreasing demographic dynamics in the region have led to a weakening of the inflow to the labour market, and a strong increase in the demand for foreign labour.…”

“…) to migrate to neighbouring Slovenia, which provides workers from former Yugoslavia with relatively easy access to its labour market (Danaj et al, 2020). Slovenia has grown into an important destination country for TCNs from several Balkan countries due to historical and language connections, the comparatively better economic situation of Slovenia, and bilateral labour mobility agreements that facilitate cross‐border mobility (Górny, 2017). Slovenian employers resort to the lenient labour migration procedures to recruit workers from former Yugoslav republics to provide competitively cheaper services to the wider EU labour market, hence transforming posting into a profitable business model (Danaj et al, 2020).…”

“…The numbers of such visas grew from 235,000 in 2013 to 782,000 in 2015 and exceeded one million in 2016. Almost all of these visas have been issued for Ukrainians, especially since the military conflict in Ukraine in 2014 (Górny 2017).…”

Political thought in Central and Eastern Europe: The open society, its friends, and enemies

“… 55. For an overview on migration between CEE and the old EU member states, see Glorius, Grabowska-Lusińska, and Kuvik (2013), Gorny (2017), and Simionescu (2018).…”