Liquid Migration Revisited: Two Decades after the EU Enlargements of 2004 and 2007
Liquid Migration Revisited: Two Decades after the EU Enlargements of 2004 and 2007

Summary/Abstract: The fall of the Iron Curtain in the late 20th century and the EU enlargements in 2004 and 2007 triggered significant migration from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to the 'old' EU member states, giving rise to what many consider to be a distinct form of migration. We coined the concept of 'liquid migration' to describe this new, more temporary, flexible and unpredictable East-West migration in Europe. Now, two decades after the EU enlargements of 2004, we explore whether circular, temporary and repeated migration patterns are prevalent in intra-EU mobility or if there is a shift towards settlement. As an empirical basis, we use a large collection of migration studies which refer to the concept of liquid migration. We found three different migration patterns. The first is permanent or long-term settlement. The other two are more transient but for different reasons. The second pattern is temporariness by choice: some CEE migrants opt for open-ended, flexible lifestyles and work careers. Other CEE migrants seem to be trapped in liquid migration, the third pattern. Even if they prefer to settle in a destination country, they appear to be unable to acquire the resources necessary for settlement.

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