Abstract
This article investigates the main determinants and correlates of migration intentions of Europeans. It deals with the impact of past migration on future intended migration, a comparison of migration intentions in the Old and New EU Member States, and the main barriers and triggers to cross-border mobility within Europe. The article contributes to our understanding of the costs to migration that Europeans perceive when making a migration decision. The analyses are based on the 2005 Eurobarometer Mobility Survey conducted in 25 European Member States, the most comprehensive and recent Europe-wide survey on migration intentions. The intention to migrate appears to be strongly linked to past migration behavior. Migration intentions are higher in New Member States although the variation within these states is substantial. Labour market opportunities are an important motive for migration. Existing social ties and socio-cultural singularities are major barriers to migration – though less so for people from the New Member States. From a sociological perspective migration intentions are ‘bounded intentions’, i.e. embedded in a plurality of competing pro’s and cons.
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