Arab Migration to Europe: Trends and Policies

Abstract

Growing Arab migration to Europe is a likely scenario for the coming years, poorly prepared for by current policies. The paper examines three reasons for this scenario: new patterns of family‐building in Arab countries; aging in Europe; and the emergence of a new demand for migrant labor. While the ongoing establishment of free trade may increase migratory pressures, government policies remain potentially conflicting – on the Arab side, optimizing the economic benefits drawn from emigrants and reviving their sense of belonging to their culture of origin; on the European side, restricting further immigration and integrating former migrants in the host society and culture.

Moving 'On Their Own'? Mobility Strategies and Social Networks of Migrant Women from Maghreb in Italy

“…These changes have been mostly a consequence of the process of adaptation to the imperatives and pressures imposed by the structural adjustment programmes. From this point of view, the pathways to social change followed by Maghreb countries resemble those of other developing countries and regions, especially for the process of impoverishment that has widely affected the lower and middle classes (Sassen, 2000 ;Fargues, 2004). In particular, the middle-classes -whose status was protected by the State in previous times -experienced a restriction of economic chances , leading to a process of lowering of their social position.…”

“…Even though the war did not lead to any mass emigration, as pointed out by Fargues (2004), some women left their country as a consequence of persecution. Working women indeed were one of the main target of the islamist dissidents.…”

Migration from the Middle East and North Africa to Europe: Past Developments, Current Status and Future Potentials

“…Moreover, the increasingly restrictive immigration policies and, in particular, the introduction of visa restrictions, had the paradoxical effect of pushing migrants into permanent settlement rather than the reverse (Entzinger 1985;Fargues 2004). Subsequent massive family reunification heralded the shift from circular to more permanent migration.…”

“…The pressure on the Moroccan and Egyptian labour markets -unlike in Turkey -is not expected to decrease significantly in the short term. However, Morocco has almost reached the point where the dramatic reductions in fertility since 1972 will begin to entail the reduction of the number of people attaining working age in 2010, and will reach full momentum in the period 2015-2020 (Courbage 1996;Fargues 2004). The next generation entering the labour market will theoretically face less competition and also bear an exceptionally light demographic burden compared to past and future generations (Fargues 2004).…”

“…Although the idea that migration can 'solve' population ageing is fundamentally flawed, it is likely that population ageing will increase labour demand in specific sectors, in particular in care and other high-and low-skilled services. The demand for migrant labour is likely to increase even in scenarios of a somewhat drastic increase in labour participation (de Jong, Nicolaas & Sprangers 2001;Entzinger 2000;Fargues 2004). …”