Dynamics of Migration and Integration Processes in Southern Europe

Abstract

The article analyzes the latest migration trends in Southern Europe. Given the proximity to Africa and the Middle East, which are the main sources of migrant flows, the discussed topic is especially acute for the region and the countries chosen for the analysis, namely Portugal, Spain, Italy, San Marino and Malta. Using a comparative approach, the article focuses on the European general strategy for the reception of migrants versus its actual results. Despite the fact that the EU guidance and standards provide the foundation for immigrant integration policies across the region, the actual legal practice, its implementation and results in specific countries differ widely. To some extent, Portugal is ahead of other nations in the region, and its advantage is the result of a nationwide immigrant integration policy and a single state body empowered to lead its implementation. In Spain, on the other hand, the development of integration policies is performed regionally, meaning the absence of a nationwide integration program and, hence, a certain level of fragmentation and a lesser degree of policy efficiency. Italy adopted its first immigrant integration plan as recently as in 2017, and it has not brought significant results yet. Still, with the recent upscale in immigration flows, Italy’s former soft immigration policies are becoming tougher. The country remains committed to multiculturalism and the quota mechanism for receiving migrants. Although tiny in size, Malta experiences high immigrant flow pressure, and tries to tackle it by providing de facto paid citizenship and residence permits for privileged immigrant strata.