16 / 2002
Barbara Verlič Christensen

Are Migrations Revolving National Labor Markets of European Union?



ABSTRACT
The paper is analysing the conflicting trends between non-economic immigration flows and persistent unemployment rates of denizens within the last decades in EU countries. Some demographic and labour market migration theories are challenged. Abortive integration policies keep on disregarding ethnic and class resources of immigrants, thus rising the social costs for governments. Undocumented immigration, residency and work is increasing within service sectors, as well as grey economy prosper. At the same vein the access to ethnic economy and/or selfemployment of immigrants remains restricted and unsupported by governments in EU.

The present conflicting migration trends can hardly be resolved within national immigration policies, but rather require global interventions and international solutions. In the short run, national governments could promote higher mobility of denizens within the common labour market of EU. They should give assistance and sustain ethnic organizations and ethnic economy. Governments could supplement the human resources of denizens (recognising theirs education and skills), as well as giving them access to voting rights, in order to facilitate naturalisation.