The steady decrease of flows out of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) in recent years has not affected the dynamism and complexity of migration processes within the region. Whereas in the 1990s migration was the result of crises, military conflicts, and the repatriation of populations                    

Disparities in levels of economic development and in demographic trends characterize the region. While the populations of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine are shrinking due to ageing and low birth rates, Azerbaijan and the Central Asian states are still experiencing relatively high population growth. The major destination country in the region, Russia, is second only to the United States in terms of foreign-born residents, many of whom come from other EECA countries (UNHCR, 2004).

A number of other factors and emerging trends influence the complex migration picture in the EECA region: the lack of reliable statistics on migration in general and on labour migration in particular, the pull factor of diaspora networks, some populations’ dependency on the remittances of migrant workers, the feminization of labour migration, the transformation of ethnic migration flows into labour migration, brain drain from the region, trafficking in persons, and the role of globalization and regional economic organizations in fostering free flows of labour. Clearly, a more careful analysis is needed to understand how these elements affect migration flows and to identify appropriate policy responses.

Migration remains a key topic in public and political debates across the whole region. Many articles in the publication point out the impact of migration can be positive or negative, offering opportunities or constraints to economic, social, and human development. The effects will vary depending on each country’s context, its economic and social trends, the scale and characteristics of migration flows, and the behaviour of individual migrants (IOM, 2006). As governments in the region become more aware of the migration-development nexus, this should lead to increased cooperation in the adoption of sensible migration policies that influence the conditions under which migration    occurs. Migration for economic reasons is likely to grow in the EECA region. As decision makers come to understand the development potential of labour migration, cooperation initiatives in the region should also match the increased flows of persons. Due to its size and economic weight, Russia will play a central role in the evolution of these processes. Encouraging international initiatives linked to labour migration can serve as a base for countries in the region to develop and strengthen their cooperation in this field.

The publication does not offer a comprehensive overview of the numerous issues and problems linked to migration in the EECA region. Rather, it seeks to add to the debate by presenting a variety of perspectives on migration-related priorities and challenges, focusing on current trends and policy responses.

The report is available free-of-charge and can be downloaded as a PDF file from the IOM TCC website. To request a print copy of the report, contact IOM TCC: infotccvienna@iom.int <mailto:infotccvienna@iom.int> or 43 (1) 585 33 22 12.