Get Understanding Migration In The European Union

The three main causes were a rapid increase in population, class rule and economic modernization. Personal reasons are mentioned and discrimination against religious and ethnic minority groups are touched upon.

European publics tend to want less immigration. A median of 51% believe their country should allow fewer immigrants or none at all, while 35% think the number of immigrants should stay about the same.

Some people move in search of work or economic opportunities, to join family, or to study. Others move to escape conflict, persecution, terrorism, or human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters, or other environmental factors.

Since the height of the migration crisis in 2015, the EU has implemented measures to improve its control over external borders and migration flows. The EU and its member states are intensifying efforts to establish an effective, humanitarian and safe European migration policy.

Europe is falling short in fully integrating international migrants: they tend to register lower living/housing standards and higher poverty and social exclusion rates than native born. Table 1 shows how labour and social conditions for the foreign, non-EU born people are much lower than for the native born population.

Definition(s) In the global context, a person who is outside the territory of the State of which they are nationals or citizens and who has resided in a foreign country for more than one year irrespective of the causes, voluntary or involuntary, and the means, regular or irregular, used to migrate.

Illegal immigration Many people from underdeveloped African countries embark on the dangerous journey for Europe, in hopes of a better life. In parts of Africa, particularly North Africa (Morocco, Mauritania, and Libya), trafficking immigrants to Europe has become more lucrative than drug trafficking.