Multinational Populations in Europe: Migration Policies and Classifications of Migrants

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This introductory chapter takes into consideration the three aspects concerning immigration processes in the European Union. Firstly, it shows figures of migrants living in the EU, differentiating between EU and non-EU citizens. Secondly, it shows that among these two groups, there is a civic stratification which implies different access to social and political rights. From one side, EU citizens are benefited from the welfare and healthcare systems in the foreign country where they are living, and they also have political rights at the local level. From the other side, non-EU citizens have access to social services according to their visa permit and only under certain conditions are able to exercise the municipal political rights. Among non-EU citizens, the illegal or overstayed migrants find their worst condition, because of all the institutional aid they have is usually only first urgent heath medical care. The third and final part of the chapter focuses on migration policies in the EU, pointing out the distinction between Northern European countries having a longer history as countries of immigration and the Southern European ones, which only more recently became the destination of migrants. Different migration policies and their implications to integration process of non-EU citizens in the hosting country will all be analysed by pointing out their advantages and limits, concerning the quality of life of migrants living in the new country.