Migration and its regulation in an integrating Europe

The historical development of immigration in Europe, its geographical pattern, the types of migration and the characteristics of migrants are described in the first part of this chapter. It concludes that immigration has become a relevant issue in all EU countries, though different in time, form and intensity. Immigration policies of receiving countries greatly influence the volume and patterns of migration, the place of settlement and the characteristics of migrants. Integration policies influence significantly the position of immigrants in their new destination and their access to the labour market. The second part of this chapter outlines three different migration and integration regimes in Europe. Trade unions in European countries are thus confronted with different forms of migration, with different migration and integration regimes, and with different types of migrants. Their attitudes and actions on immigration and migrants should be seen in the light of such different starting positions.