European Union Migrants Research Articles

Depression in Europe: does migrant integration have mental health payoffs? A cross-national comparison of 20 European countries

Objectives. Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability. As migrants form an increasing group in Europe, already making up about 8.7% of the population in 2010, knowledge on migrant-related inequalities in depression is of main public health interest. In this study, we first assess whether migrants in Europe are at higher risk for depression compared to the native population. Second, we assess whether the association between migration and depression is dependent on different forms of migrant integration. Migrant integration is looked at both from the individual and from the national level.Design. Hierarchical linear regression analyses based on data for 20 countries in the European Social Survey 2006/2007 (N = 37,076 individuals aged 15 or more). Depression is measured using the center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale. We consider migrant integration over time (first- and second-generation migrants, differentiated according to European Union (EU) or non-EU origin), barriers to integration (low educational level, financial difficulties, being out of the labor market, ethnic minority status, discrimination), and the host country environment (national migrant integration policy). Controls are gender, age, partner relationship, social support, and welfare state regime.Results. Natives and second-generation migrants do not differ significantly in their risk profile for depression. First-generation migrants show higher levels of depression, with those born outside of Europe to be the worst off. This higher risk for depression is not attributable to ethnic minority status but is mainly due to experienced barriers to socioeconomic integration and processes of discrimination. A country's national policy on migrant integration shows not to soften the depressing effect of being a first-generation migrant nor does it have indirect beneficial health effects by reducing barriers to integration.Conclusion. In Europe, first-generation EU and non-EU migrants experience higher levels of depression. Second-generation migrants and natives show similar risk profiles.

Swedish trade unions and European Union migrant workers

The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 increased the flows of workers across national borders within the unions, making action against social dumping an increased priority for unions. Which factors influence unions’ choices of strategies against wage dumping? Research has shown that in a cross-national perspective, unions with stronger institutional positions, defined as their influence on public policy and extent of collective bargaining coverage, have tended to be less interested in organising migrant workers than unions with weaker institutional positions. This article examines the choices made by three Swedish unions, all three with strong institutional positions, in responding to migrant workers: two have developed extensive organising responses, while the third relies on cooperation with employers and collective bargaining coverage to counteract social dumping. The article shows that intra-national variation can be explained by sectoral-based issues: that is, variation at both a country and sectoral level influences unions’ strategic choices towards migrant workers. The article further highlights the transference of the Anglo-Saxon union revitalisation model in some sectors of the Swedish trade union movement, which faces increasing pressure as a result of labour precariousness in the Swedish labour market.

A Critical Appraisal of EU Governance for the Protection of Minority Rights

AbstractThe European Union (EU) has increasing regulatory capacity and capability for minority rights protection. A combination of old and new governance measures have been useful in affording the EU that capacity. Both modes of governance impact on EU migrant groups, particularly where they are free movers of a different nationality, race or ethnic orgin to the (dominant) members of the states to which they have migrated. In addition, new governance measures also allow a degree of impact on other minority groups, such as national minorities, whether or not individuals from these groups exercise free movement rights. Together, old and new governance measures offer certain extents of 'respect' for, 'protection' of and 'promotion' of minority rights.

Problems and Challenges in Researching Bi-National Migrant Families Within the European Union

This article, based on a small empirical study, addresses some of the problems and challenges in carrying out research with bi-national families on the move within the European Union (EU). In general, there is paucity of research on bi-national families and particularly in relation to the impact of divorce and separation on migrant families. After introducing the research project and the ‘context’ in which it is based, the article addresses the main legal and sociological issues affecting bi-national migrant families split across frontiers. The analysis then turns to describe problems encountered by a group of EU migrant couples with children who experienced some form of family breakdown. A small set of scenarios is constructed in an attempt to offer a classification of issues affecting these bi-national families. A first level of investigation deals with family breakdown disputes which are essentially internal with no, or a limited, cross-national dimension, ie the foreign element does not play a relevant role in the settlement of such controversies. A second level includes a number of disputes which demands a cross-national angle of analysis, ie the foreign element needs to be taken into consideration in dealing with family disputes across frontiers. Real experiences drawn from the empirical work enrich the analysis and offer some insight into the complex area of family migration.

Migrant Women Professionals in the European Union

Lists of Tables Abbreviations Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION Labour Mobility in the European Union Migrant Women Professionals in European Labour Markets PART I: ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT The Nursing Profession The Banking Profession PART II: ADJUSTMENT AND INTEGRATION The Nursing Profession The Banking Profession PART III: CAREER PROGRESSION The Nursing Profession The Banking Profession Towards a European Labour Market Appendices Notes Bibliography Index