What is immigration?

Immigration (derived from Latin: migratio) is the act of people entering and settling in a country or region to which they are not native.

"Immigration will, in the years ahead, be one of our biggest

challenges, offering opportunities of growth and jobs for our aging economies and of development

for countries of origin„

—Jacques Barrot, European Commission Vice-President for Justice, Freedom, and Security

Reasons Why People Immigrate

• Financially Secured Future Gaining financial stability and better future prospects, when another country

is offering better future anticipations, higher wages and a polished lifestyle

• High Standard of Living Another lifestyle, f.ex. Bigger offer of cultural activities, shorter working

hours

• Education Education is critical for preparing immigrants and their offspring to be active

and successful participants

• Political Reasons Wide range of political reasons are arrayed with the term immigration. People

immigrate to maintain a global presence amongst various countries

• Needs of a big Change in Life Sometimes people feel tired of their life in one place and feel need of total change of their environment or friends, to cut off their family…

• Soul Mate Some migration is for personal reasons, based on a relationship such as in

in family reunification or transnational marriage

• Example of Someone Else The first person immigrates and sends “Happily Settled” information to

his loved ones living in the native country. And then… others also immigrate to the same country to enhance their future prospects

Classification of immigrants

migrant/foreign worker

refugee

legal illegal

Illegal Workers

Illegal employment is concentrated in certain sectors, particularly construction, agriculture, cleaning, and hotel/catering, where they help meet the needs of some employers willing to take advantage of workers who will accept what are mostly unskilled, often unsafe, and generally low-paying jobs

CAUSES OF DEATH OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Legal Workers

„Legal" immigrant is loosely defined as someone who comes to a different country from their country of citizenship through the legal process in place by the target country.

EU legislation on legal immigration is typically tied to existing work or study arrangements and concern:

■ Family reunification: ■ Long-term residents ■ Students: ■ Researchers: ■ Legal status of non-EU workers: ■ Highly skilled workers

Refugees Refugee is a person who is

outside their country of origin or habitual residence because they have suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because they are a member of a persecuted 'social group'

Syrian refugees camp in Turkey

Effects of Immigration

Positive Effects

Economical benefitsimmigrants often do jobs that people in the host country don’t

want to do, they often work longer hours and for lower salaries, what benefits the host country

Economical benefitswell educated immigrants offer an increased talent pool

Cultural DiversificationImmigrants, when made to feel welcome in the host society, can contribute to the diversity of that society, which can help with tolerance and

understanding

cuisine sport

media art

cne sport

art

cuisine

media

Development of new forms of dealing with discrimination, social exclusion, racism and

xenophobia

Negative Effects

Cultural conflictson religious or ethnic background; about traditional clothes, prayers, food…

Cultural conflicts: racism hatred of one person by another, or the belief that another person is less

than human because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth…

„Brain drain”limited resources hosting country spend in educating their students compared to foreign students (f.ex.

the UK for is often accused of actively hiring medical staff from developing countries)

CriminalityBecause of bad living conditions and not enough social help from the hosting country sometimes

the growing rate of street fights and drug trafficking is being connected with immigrants

„Without the assumed net migration inflow, Europe’s population would start shrinking from

2012 onwards” (European Commission, 2009, p. 70)

Conclusion

Immigration to Europe increased from the 1980s onward, as a result of people from developing countries wanting to escape war, oppresion, natural disasters or poverty. Some EU countries saw a dramatic growth in immigration after World War II until the 1970s. Most European nations today (particularly those of the EU-15) have sizeable immigrant populations, many of non-European origin. In the European Union, as the EU citizenship implies freedom of movement and residence within the EU itself.

The end

Powerpoint created by the international participants during the youth exchange “Turning social exclusion in inclusive growth” – that took place in Sala Bolognese – June 2012