Page 60 - valuing-diversity-guidance-for-labour-market-integration-of-migrants

Valuing diversity: guidance for labour market integration of migrants

1980s there were strong inflows from Angola and Cape Verde, with a more
recent period marked by the intake of Brazilian and Ukrainian citizens.

3.1.2. Countries which have recently joined the EU
These countries include most of the EU countries formerly integrated in the
USSR. In many of these countries, immigration is a recent issue, which has
created a pressure for legal response and the adoption of a minimum integration
strategy. Estonia and Latvia are the most typical examples, with a significant
percentage of their population originating from diverse areas from the former
USSR. The Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Hungary have also faced a
recent increase of migrant inflow (mainly refugee applications from ex-
Yugoslavian citizens, in Hungary’s case).

3.1.3. Countries which evolved from emigration to immigration countries
This is the case of southern Europe states, such as Greece, Spain, Italy and
Malta. Ireland can also be included in this group due to its recent growth of
asylum applications and strong flows of economic immigrants from Poland and
Lithuania. Greece, Spain, Italy and Malta have experienced a strong rise in the
intake of third-country nationals, mainly from the Maghreb region and Turkey
since the late 1980s. Greece and Italy are frequently seen as entry door
countries to Europe due to their geographic proximity to northern Africa and to
Turkey (in Greece’s case), being frequent targets for illegal immigration.

3.2. Immigrant population characteristics

3.2.1. European demographics, flows and origins
The European Union is presently experiencing a tendency for negative growth in
its natural active population, though this is compensated by an intake of third-
country immigrants.

Eurostat data (Europop) foresee a clear tendency for long-term (2060)
reduction of the EU population of around 50 million people, if migrations flows are
excluded. Conversely, the same projections account for an actual growth of the
population of about 20 million, relative to its natural basis, if migration is
considered.

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