Migration and Socio-Demographic Processes

Migration and Socio-Demographic Processes in Central and Eastern Europe: Characteristics, Specificity and Internal Differences

Western Europe, it is also an area of intense and diverse migration flows both internal and external.

Since the 19th century CEE countries constituted a traditional reservoir of workers for western countries. This was stopped by the post-war bipolar division of Europe into socialist and capitalist semi-isolated groups of countries. During that period, following the immediate post-war population movements, migration occurred mainly within the Eastern Block and bet

ween ‘friendly’ countries. Emigration to western countries was caused mainly by political and ethnic factors. Economic migration was predominantly illegal. After the fall of the Iron Curtain and the systemic transformation in this part of the world, an opportunity opened up for the residents of Central and Eastern Europe to move freely across the borders and undertake employment (however mostly in the shadow economy) in Western Europe.

The accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia1 to the European Union in 2004 gave rise to a large wave of labour migration from these countries to the EU15 states, in particular those that were first to open their labour markets to ‘new’ EU citizens (especially to the United Kingdom).

Currently, migration from and to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, excluding the one that takes place between industrialised countries, accounts for one third of total emigration and immigration. For example, there are 35 million foreign-born residents in Eastern European and Central Asia. Also, Russia is the country with the second largest number of migrants in the world, Ukraine the fourth and Poland, the ninth.

Migration takes different shapes:

• internal movements

• cross-border migration within Eastern Europe and Central Asia

• outflows from ECA to other regions (Western Europe)

• inflows to ECA from other regions

• change in the borders after breakup of Soviet Union, a situation that created many “migrants” who in some cases haven’t physically moved.

Source: http://russia-insider.com/sites/insider/files/styles/1200xauto/public/rsz_ussrnations.jpg?itok=wvZvhi5t

Much of the emigration in Western ECA (42%), Eastern European countries, goes to Western Europe, while emigration of other ECA countries (80%) is directed towards other ECA countries.

Germany is the main destination in Western Europe, Russia inside ECA countries, and the UK for ECA countries within European Union because they didn’t have access to other countries. It is estimated that 3 million undocumented immigrants are in the EU, and between 3 to 3.5 million in Russia.

These countries have experienced population declines because of more emigration than immigration and more deaths than births: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. In Balkan countries population has declined by more than 2.7 million people, while the Czech Republic and Slovenia have seen their population grow due entirely to immigration. In general, though, all Eastern and Central European countries are expected to see a decline in their population and they will depend on workers flows coming from other areas of the world, most probably Africa and Asia.

For the poorest countries in Eastern Europe, migrant remittances account for a high percentage of their economy: 20% of GDP in Moldova and in Bosnia Herzegovina, and over 10% in Albania.

The main sources of remittances, with three-quarters of the total and the rich ECA countries for 10%. For Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina the contribution of remittances is almost as large as that of exports.

A new wave of urbanization has been seen in some places partly due to concentrations of direct foreign investment, trade, and more economic opportunities. Moscow, for example, has grown from 1.5 million inhabitants (beginning of the 90s) to 10.4 million inhabitants.

Also, because of the lack of coherent agreements between receiving and sending-migrations countries some types of immigration occur more often than others.

Some countries, like Ukraine and Poland, serve as transition countries or used to because of their lax immigration policies.

In conclusion, one could argue that ever since the collapse of URSS and the fall of communism a new organization of Europe in terms of migration has emerged, with “Eastern European” countries serving as labour force suppliers (especially Balkans) for Western European countries, a pattern reinforced by the inclusion of some of Eastern European countries to EU deals. Also, it is remarkable to note two additional factors: the high degree of mobility in the area (making Eastern European countries both the main exporters and importers of migrants) and the decrease in fertility in Eastern European.

References

All facts and graphics, if it is not clearly stated, were obtained from:

QUILLIN, B. ; MANSOOR, A. (2007) Migration and Remittances: Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, Washington Digital version available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/6920/384260Migratio101OFFICIAL0USE0ONLY1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y[Last accessed 26/10/2016]