Abstract
Abstract Some scholars have hypothesized that social integration in the European Union (EU) is a trigger for bi-national European marriages. Although this idea has been the motivation behind some research, empirical evidence shows that the effect of accession to the EU has had a limited effect on partner choice. This study aims to add to the knowledge on this issue by analysing the trends and patterns of marriages between Portuguese and non-Portuguese citizens between 1997 and 2011. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses using official data on marriages that took place in Portugal, with the results showing that bi-national European marriages remained stable throughout the period, although some nuances are evident depending on the type of marriage. While Portuguese-EU15 marriages declined over time, those between native Portuguese and other Europeans increased. Gender differences determined the development and composition of these marriages. This article also notes the existence of three distinct types of bi-national union: labour, recomposed and highly educated couples. The final part of the article seeks to explain and interpret the findings, specifically by focusing on the increase in cohabitation as a functional substitute for bi-national European marriage, the need to compare and combine the number of marriages in both spouses’ countries, and changes in the structure of the Portuguese matrimonial market due to the arrival of new social groups (e.g. Brazilian and Eastern European).
Highlights
The idea that European Union (EU) social integration would trigger the formation of a European society was part of the plans of the EU’s founding fathers
Are marriage market opportunities structured around gender differences? The empirical evidence for whether bi-national European marriages have remained constant over time (A.1) is confirmed only in relative terms
Bi-national European newlyweds may have fallen by more than half between 1997 and 2011, and yet if we consider the proportion in relation to the total number of marriages celebrated in those years we find that its importance has remained constant: 6.4% in 1997, 7.2% in 2001, 7.3% in 2006 and 6.9% in 2011 (INE, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2011)
Summary
The idea that European Union (EU) social integration would trigger the formation of a European society was part of the plans of the EU’s founding fathers. Adrian Favell’s work (2008a) on those who take advantage of free movement drew attention to a group of European migrants whose legal and symbolic status – as Europeans – gave them rights to integrate socially in another country European free movers, he claims, are citizens of any EU member state who exercise their right to move, work, live and shop anywhere within the EU, without discrimination based on country of origin, race, ethnicity, gender, education or income. He claims, are citizens of any EU member state who exercise their right to move, work, live and shop anywhere within the EU, without discrimination based on country of origin, race, ethnicity, gender, education or income They are the human by-product of the EU’s political measures on freedom of movement: i.e., flexible and professional men and women in their 20s and 30s who are normally from well-educated middle-class backgrounds and who leave their home countries to seek a new life in Europe
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