Migratory Processes in SEE � Collection of National Perspectives

23 May 2007

The Centre for Research and Policy Creation presented the regional miscellany of essays Migratory Processes in SEE � Collection of National Perspectives. CRPC representatives presented the latest migratory trends in the region and their impact on security and economy of the country.

According to the editors, Macedonian immigrants amount to just 0.01 percent of all immigrants in the European Union. Also, there was an increased number of illegal border crossings into the country, as opposed to the fact that only a small fraction of citizens of Macedonia abuse the visas they were issued.

Regarding the issue of asylum seekers, the percentage of approved petitions in most countries in the world rarely goes over 10%, while Macedonia approves about 50% of the 50 or so requests annually, which is the average number of asylum requests in the country.

In terms of the profile of the average Macedonian immigrant, it is evident that most of them are unemployed males between 19 and 29 years of age, with high school diplomas, who have no families of their own and lack faith that situation in Macedonia will improve any time soon. They usually overstay the approved period of stay in the given country, know only the basics of the local language and don�t have work permits.