The Bulgarian Migration Paradox
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THE BULGARIAN MIGRATION PARADOX MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN BULGARIA The MIND Project (Migration. Interconnectedness. Development) is a three-year knowledge-building, advocacy and campaigning project seeking to contribute to a European society that understands the complexities of migration; responds to the challenges with humanity and respect; and values the contribution of everyone working together to have a positive effect on our lives, community and place. The MIND project partners include Caritas organizations in 11 EU member countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden as well as Caritas Europa. Integral to the MIND project is the research and preparation of eleven national and one European publication. These publications will serve as advocacy tools for promoting the engagement of European actors and contain recommendations on migration and development at national and EU levels drawing on a solid knowledge and evidence base based on Christian and universal values. For more information about MIND follow the campaign: This publication was authored by Prof. Anna Krasteva with the support of Cáritas, the Global Migration Policy Associates (GMPA) and Caritas Europa. Proofread by Molly O’Keffe and Nadine Croizard Graphic design by Vanden Broele Group with the support of Leticia Lozano (Caritas Europa) Cover illustration by Jean Bernard Boulnois Published by Cáritas Bulgaria, 9 Oborishte Str., 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria, May 2019. The MIND project is financed by the European Commission, DG DEVCO under the Development education and awareness raising (DEAR) funding programme of the EU. Caritas reserves the right to not be held responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in this publication. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER CHAPTER 6 FOREWORD 5 MIGratION AND DEVELOPMENT – THE POSITIVE NEXUS 23 A. Immigrants’ strategies for integration 23 CHAPTER 2 . Entrepreneurial and labor integration 23 EXecUTIVE SUMMARY 7 (a) Refugees 24 (b) Third-country nationals 25 2. Contribution to welfare system CHAPTER 3 and to sustaining viable national THE COMMON HOME VISION AND VALUES: social security systems 25 MIGratION, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGhts 9 3. Contribution to community, social, A. Migration 0 cultural, and economic development 25 B. Development B. Diaspora as “wings of development” 26 C. Migration and development 2 . Remittances from Bulgaria to other countries 26 2. Remittances of the Bulgarian Diaspora – monetary, social, democratic 27 CHAPTER 4 (a) Monetary remittances 27 INtrodUCTION 3 (b) Social and democratic remittances 28 C. Returnees – the most desired migrants 28 CHAPTER 5 THE BULGARIAN MIGratION PHENOMENON 15 A. From (post)communism to (post)crisis – periods and trends of migration policy 16 B. Asymmetrical tripolar migration profile – numerous emigration, much less numerous immigration and very low number of refugees 17 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 INTEGratIOn – chaLLENGES AND obstacLES 3 MIGratION & DEVELOPMENT NEXUS A. Difficulties and policies that do not work 3 AS SHARED RESPONSIBILITy – . Difficulties in and obstacles POLICIES, LEGISLatION, practICES 39 to refugees’ access to the Bulgarian A. The foreign policy of Bulgaria – labour market 32 between cooperation for development 2. Ineffective refugee integration policies 32 and withdrawal from multilateralism 39 3. Lack of coherence in migration B. Legislation and strategies and integration strategies and policies 33 for European standards in labor migration 4. Institutional deficits 34 and integration 4 5. Negative impact of mainstreamed . Legislation 4 anti-immigration political discourse 2. Migration and integration strategies 42 on policies of integration 34 C. Civil society – the most committed actor of the 6. Trade unions on the risk of labour dumping 35 migration/integration & development nexus 43 7. Hostile public opinion 36 . Organisations for intercultural dialogue, B. Conflict, lack of rule of law, poor governance, migrant and refugee integration and rights 43 corruption, decent work deficits, 2. International organisations unemployment in countries of origin 37 for international standards in humanitarian and integration activities 43 3. Good grassroots practices of integration 44 4. Returnee migrants for successful professional reintegration 45 CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSIONS AND recoMMENdatIONS 47 A. Conclusions 47 B. Recommendations 49 References 5 Legislative Documents 54 Annexes 55 A. Abbreviations 55 A2: Interview list 55 Acknowledgements 55 3 Photo: Caritas Sofia - CHAPTER - FOREWORD Whether in search of a better life and opportunities, escaping and solidarity, so that everyone can be loved as a child and feel poverty, hunger, exploitation and unfair distribution of the at home in the great human family”, that is, in our” Common world’s resources, or fleeing warfare and persecution, people are Home”. forced to migrate. Because of the lack of security and develop- ment opportunities, people flee their places of origin, leaving Alongside another 11 Caritas organisations from 11 EU Mem- behind their homes, friends, family and memories. ber States, Caritas Bulgaria is participating in the three-year initiative “Migration, Interaction, Development” (MIND). Bulgarian society is not unified in terms of its reception of The different events we organise in Bulgaria within the frame- migrants and the notion of supporting and facilitating their work of the initiative aim to contribute to raising public aware- integration. We are witnessing the expression of highly nega- ness. The project also aims to sharpen the wider sensitivity and tive attitudes by small groups of people who react loudly and understanding of the interlink between migration and develop- ferociously to every occurrence of migrants, and yet such iso- ment, the root causes of migration, the role of host societies and lated incidents cannot be taken as a characteristic of the entire the contribution of migrants to local development and develop- society. ing countries, more generally. The presence of people enduring the experience of migration is An important part of the MIND initiative is the report “The an opportunity for human development, interaction and inter- Bulgarian Migration Paradox - Positive Integration and Nega- cultural dialogue. The fact that migrants often speak a different tive Political Discourse”, which we would like to present to you language and are carriers of a different culture does not mean via this publication and which, together with the Caritas re- we cannot find ways to live together. By getting to know each ports from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, other better and by being able to experience, feel, and under- the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden will make up stand what the other is going through, we begin to realise that the Common Home Special Edition. I would especially like to we can be of help. thank Professor Anna Krasteva for her research work on the re- port and to all those who have contributed to the preparation In that context, Caritas’ priorities are aimed at supporting the of this publication. facilitation of the processes of integration and advocacy, particu- larly in terms of developing a responsible policy that provides 1. I hope that through this publication, and all other initia- support mechanisms easing the inclusion of migrants into Bul- tives related to the theme of “Migration and Development”, we garian society. will be able to contribute to sharpening awareness of the sub- ject, to shedding more light on the need to consider migration, Our organisation supports people forced to migrate so that they socio-economic development and human rights in a concerted can get back on their feet, enrol their children in school, learn fashion. This publication will illustrate the need to plan and Bulgarian, find a job, care and provide for their family and ful- implement policies that involve an integrative approach for ad- fil all responsibilities that are also shared by Bulgarian citizens. dressing development issues and targeting migration as a man- Migration is a phenomenon that is an integral part of human agement option, in order to bring about migration which is safe history, a phenomenon that is increasingly affected by globalisa- and voluntary, rather than deadly or forced. tion, economic and social development. Let us, as Pope Francis calls us to do, “be reasonably open to the complex phenomenon of migration and facilitate integration that involves migrants Emanuil Patashev, duly respecting the rule of law of the host state, and propel a Secretary General renewed commitment of society to a genuine culture of reception May 2019 5 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Photo: Caritas Sofia - CHAPTER 2 - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY he Bulgarian migration experience is highly interest- Yet today, Bulgaria’s relatively small population size of just over Ting from the perspective of the relationship between 7 million, its working age population (15-64 years old) of 4.8 migration and development. This relationship is associated million, and its high emigration contrasted with very low im- with three paradoxes. First and foremost, Bulgaria has expe- migration, undermine the viability of Bulgaria’s economy and rienced extremely high emigration over the last three dec- its capacity to provide