Immigration in Greece: overview and perspectives

Abstract

<p>The present paper examines immigration<br />in Greece over the past two decades.<br />Economic immigrants in Greece, despite<br />the absence of reliable offi cial data, exceed<br />one million, while immigration has lead<br />to the development of policies relating<br />to the planning and implementation of<br />a coherent immigration policy centered<br />on the legalization and the integration<br />of immigrants in the Greek society. This<br />necessity stems from the twenty year old<br />existence of immigration in Greece as well<br />as from a series of developments affecting<br />core public policies such as education,<br />employment, income, social insurance,<br />health care, residence, legalization and<br />integration of immigrants.<br />Nonetheless, it should be pointed out,<br />that the size and the complexity of the<br />phenomenon requires the development<br />of a coherent policy that will in turn<br />enhance effectiveness in tackling the<br />social, economic, and political aspects<br />of immigration. In addition, the role of<br />immigrants in society, the labor market<br />and the economy constitutes a further<br />point towards that direction.</p>