Migration Trends 2004–2006 Söderköping Process Countries
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MIGRATION TRENDS 2004–2006 SÖDERKÖPING PROCESS COUNTRIES Irina Pribytkova, professor Juris Gromovs, mag.iur., dr.cand.iur This project is funded by This project is implemented Swedish Migration Board The International the European Union by the United Nations High is a project partner Organization for Migration Commissioner for Refugees is a project partner Contact: Cross-Border Cooperation Process Secretariat 32-A Sichnevoho Povstannya St., Kyiv, 01015, Ukraine Tel: +380 44 254 55346 / 47 Fax: +380 44 288 9850 Email: [email protected] www.soderkoping.org.ua Th is paper was written by Dr. Irina Pribytkova and Juris Gromovs with the assistance of Ilmars Mezs, Programme offi cer, International Organization for Migration. Th is publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Commission. It pres- ents the views of its authors and in no way constitutes any obligation or expresses the offi cial position or views of the European Commission, IOM, UNHCR, or SMB. Th is paper may be freely quoted, cited and copied for academic, educational or other non-com- mercial purposes without prior permission from European Commission, IOM, UNHCR and SMB, provided that the source is acknowledged. Th e paper is available online at www.soderkoping.org.ua © European Commission, 2007 Contents Introduction 4 Regular and Irregular Migration in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, 2004–2006 5 Introduction 5 1. Ukraine 7 1.1. Migration process management 7 1.2. Regular migration 9 1.3. Irregular migration 11 2. Belarus 16 2.1. Management of migration processes 16 2.2. Regular migration 17 2.3. Irregular migration 18 3. Republic of Moldova 21 3.1. Migration process management 21 3.2. Regular migration 22 3.3. Irregular migration 22 Conclusions 24 Annexes 25 Overview of Migration Trends in the Countries – EU Member States of the Söderköping Process for the period of 2004–2006 34 Introduction 34 Trends in Regular and Irregular Migration 36 Estonia 36 Hungary 37 Latvia 38 Lithuania 41 Poland 42 Romania 45 Th e Slovak Republic 48 Th e fl ow of migrants from the new EU member states to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Sweden. 51 Conclusions 54 Conclusions: Trends in the irregular migration fl ows 55 Bibliography 58 Annexes 59 3 Introduction As the Söderköping process gains further momentum, it increasingly faces a changing environ- ment, newly-emerging patterns of migration fl ows and border management, and a new dynamic of EU enlargement. While cross-border cooperation, migration and asylum matters across the EU ex- ternal frontier has been very much at the heart of the Söderköping process since its very start, the ac- cession of the Baltic states, Poland, Slovak Republic, Hungary and, recently, Romania to the European Union has changed migration dynamics in the region considerably. While an obvious change took place in migration patterns, the EU enlargement also had an impact on the regulatory framework, adjusted some priorities in strengthening administrative and operational capacity of the participat- ing countries, and highlighted further areas and needs of cross-border cooperation on migration and border management, and refugee protection. Th e current publication provides a comprehensive overview of migration trends in the ten participating countries covering both regular and irregular migration in a systematic manner. Th e fi rst part, written by Dr. Irina Pribytkova covers Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova and the second, part written by Juris Gromovs covers the seven EU member-states. While some remaining diff erences in statistical approach makes few comparisons diffi cult, these studies provide broad empirical evidence from a comparative perspective, the analysis of which presents a number of conclusions and newly emerging patterns, both in migration fl ows as well as approaches to regulate them. Sizable, precise and up to date statistical amendments and color illustrations will help readers to learn about migra- tion trends in the region. Th e accession of the new countries to the EU changed some migration pat- terns considerably; while identifying the immediate eff ects, the study focuses on the long-tem agenda, challenges and solutions, of cross-border cooperation across the EU external frontier. While this publication is intended chiefl y as a source of reference for migration, asylum and border control offi cials of the Söderköping process countries, we trust it will be of interest to a broader audience, including academia, or anyone with an interest into the current developments and priori- ties of border and migration management in Europe. Th e full text of this publication is available on line for download at www.soderkoping.org.ua May, 2007 4 Regular and Irregular Migration in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, 2004–2006 Irina Pribytkova, professor Introduction Th e enlargement of the European Union in 2004 has changed the geopolitical map of Eastern and Central Europe. Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, bordering the new EU member states of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania in the West, became Eastern neighbours of the expanding European Union. At the same time, all the three countries borders with other states of the Commonwealth of Independent states (CIS): Ukraine and Belarus with the Russian Federation, while Moldova shares a border with Ukraine. Along the whole length, these frontiers remain quite porous. Th is factor has a considerable impact on the volume, structure and intensity of migration fl ows, both legal and illegal. In this context, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova are viewed as the countries of origin, destination and transit of various migration fl ows. Th e Th ematic programme for cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration and asy- lum adopted by the European Commission on 25 January 2006 acknowledges the increase in the types and volumes of international migration fl ows, diversifi cation of countries of their origin and destination, rise in the number of migration routes and their combined impact on the European Union’s bilateral and regional relationships with third countries. In the information report submitted to the European Parliament and European Council, migration is viewed as one of the strategic priori- ties in external relations of the EU. Due to the complex problems of integration of migrants into the host societies, immigration has become an increasingly frequent topic on Europe’s political agenda. Links between migration and security have also been receiving close attention of international organisations dealing with relevant issues of the modern European political realities. In particular, migration is studied and addressed by the International Organization for Migration, the Offi ce of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development. For example, the results of a comprehensive analysis of migration situation in CIS countries, including Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, were presented in three reference publications of the International Organization for Migration in 1997, 1999 and 2002. Th e fi rst of these publications was the “CIS Migration Report: 1996”. Th e second report “Migration in the CIS: 1997–1998. Th e 1999 edition” was published two years later. Finally, in 2002, the third report “Migration Trends in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: 2001–2002 Review” was released. In addition to these publications, under the initiative of the IOM Mission in Ukraine, two reports were prepared in 2004 and 2006 on migra- tion dynamics in the country based on the data review of governmental statistics, while migration legislation of Ukraine was used as a methodological basis for analytical study, as follows: “Review of migration situation in Ukraine according to national and ministerial statistics data: 2002–2003.”; “Review of migration situation in Ukraine according to national and ministerial statistics data: 2004–2005”. Over the last two years, analytical studies in the fi eld of migration processes in CIS countries received additional methodological backup with the release of the following publications: 5 Review of migration systems in CIS countries / IOM: 2005. – 433 p.; Labour migration in the countries of Central Asia, Russian Federation, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Analytical review / IOM: 2005. – 145 p.; Labour Migration Assessment for the WNIS Region / IOM: 2006/ – 36 p. Th e review of migration systems in CIS countries was prepared as part of the Project “Th e expan- sion of the Budapest process to the CIS region for the prevention of irregular migration inside the region, from the region and through its territory” under the auspices of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development acting as the Secretariat of the Budapest process. Th is review is based mainly on the information collected by the Centre’s staff and experts from CIS member states in the course of expert working missions to all the twelve CIS states. Th e analytical review of labour migration in Central Asian countries, the Russian Federation, Afghanistan and Pakistan was carried out as part of the Programme on the development of dialogue and technical capacity building in migration process management in the countries of Central Asia, Russian Federation, Afghanistan and Pakistan under the auspices of the International Organization for Migration with fi nancial support provided by the European Commission. Th e analytical report “Labour Migration Assessment for the WNIS Region,” produced by the IOM Mission in Ukraine in 2006, provides a review of the