Migration to the Centre

The international project Migration to the Centre examines how acquis communautaire and other EU instruments influence migration and integration policies and practice in the V4 region (CZ, SK, PL, HU, SL). It brings international comparisons to the situation in each country, promotes cooperation and networking between experts and stakeholders and provides space for migrants´ voice. The project aims to raise awareness and build capacities for participation on the EU policies of migration and integration and their implementation.

The project is covering following topics that are considered crucial within the migration and integration process:

Work and the residence permits
Family reunification
Study / training in EU

The project aims to create an active network of Central European partners focused on migration and integration, to draw attention of policy makers, experts and wider public to similarities and differences in the implementation of EU migration legislation and contribute to the cultivation of the migration debate and create conditions for inclusion of migrants to the debate.

Project partners:

Duration of the project: 9/2012 - 2/2014

Project coordinator:
Alexandra Dubová
Telefon: +420 296 325 346
E-mail: alexandra.dubova@mkc.cz

The project has been generously supported by the European Commission The "Europe for citizens" programme.

Project outputs:

An overview of the migration policies and trends - Hungary

11. 2. 13 Ilona Móricz

Although the economic hardships have influenced recent migration trends in Hungary, it has remained a country of low intensity in and out migration. Hungary's population today is less than 10 million, and it is decreasing despite the somewhat positive migratory gain since the 1980s.

Hungaryarticles

An overview of the migration policies and trends - Slovakia

11. 2. 13 Daniel Kodaj, Alexandra Dubová

Slovakia is a country with relatively low share of foreigners within population, though the overall number of foreigners is increasing (both in relative and absolute numbers). In 2011, the number of foreign citizens officially residing in Slovakia reached 70 727 which means 1.3 % of the total population.

Slovakiaarticles

Shaggy, the Master of Sheesha from Israel

11. 2. 13

Shaggy Hamdan is 40 years old, comes from Israel and lives in Poland for 13 years. In the short article he shares his experience with coming to Poland, starting his own business, bureaucratic procedures and difficulty to obtain citizenship.

Work and residence permitsPoland

An overview of the migration policies and trends - Poland

7. 2. 13 Karolina Grot

While analyzing the migration policy of Poland three milestones should be outlined. The first one is the beginning of socio-economic transition when the increasing inflow of foreigners brought about the need to create and implement new legislation concerning foreigners. The second is related to the EU accession in 2004, which required various legislation and policy changes to meet relevant Europea...

Polandarticles

An overview of the migration policies and trends - Slovenia

7. 2. 13 Aldo Milohnić

Slovenia is predominantly an immigrant country thanks to migration flows from other republic of the former Yugoslavia – migrations started already in the 1950s and increased in the late 1990s. Many migrants born in other ex-Yu republics got Slovenian citizenship in the early 1990s when Slovenia became an independent state.

Sloveniaarticles

Work or no work, Hungary still lovable

6. 2. 13 Hakeem Babalola

One of many challenges the migrants in Hungary face is getting a permanent job. As a result and as a matter of putting food on the table, migrants are being indirectly inspired to be creative; to be independent. Especially third country nationals have taken destiny into their own hands.

Work and residence permitsHungaryarticles

Forced travelling through time - back to servitude

5. 2. 13 Oksana Belková

It is a huge mistake to assume that two Slavic nations have almost the same mentality. Despite the fact that I come from Ukraine, in the Czech Republic I sometimes feel as an alien from a different galaxy. In both languages we have words that sound alike but have different meanings. In both cultures the concepts of decency and polite behaviour differ. It is very confusing.

Work and residence permitsCzech Republicarticles

The breakdown of Slovenia’s construction industry from a personal perspective of a Bosnian migrant

5. 2. 13 Elvis Alukić

I came to Slovenia with my family in the summer of 1992. We came as refugees due to the war breaking out in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We came to Slovenia, because my father had been working here previously. I came as a seven year old, just on time to start with my primary school. Later on I successfully graduated as a Construction engineer. Today I work in my profession.

Work and residence permitsSlovenia

An overview of the migration policies and trends – Czech Republic

4. 2. 13 Tereza Blahoutová

Czech lands have historically been characterised as emigration country, whose inhabitants were attracted to other parts of Europe and world by promising economic opportunities. However, democratic Czech Republic has turned from a transit country into an immigration country in the last two decades.

Czech Republicarticles

Slovakia should stop seeing migration as a problem

4. 2. 13

The respondent of this short interview is immigrant from non-EU country living in Slovakia and practicing medicine for more than 6 years. In the interview he talks about his migrant experience and shares his opinion on residence permits procedure, blue cards, labor and business. He preferred to stay anonymous; therefore his true name and country of origin is not disclosed.

Work and residence permitsSlovakia