Leaving home: an analysis of intra-European migration patterns within the European Union

In an era of globalization, migration is on the agenda. Migration patterns are increasing all around the globe due to varying factors, especially to the countries in the European Union (EU). What factors determine migration processes in the European Community? This is important because migrants generate macro level scale social change in the receiving and sending countries. This thesis explores the different factors surrounding migration within the European Union from new member countries of the EU. Specifically it will focus on migrants from the new member countries of the EU (Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Slovakia) to the countries of France, Germany, UK, Sweden and Belgium. This thesis explores different research issues: a) what are the push and pull conditions for the migrants? b) What are their economic and social conditions before they migrated? c) and how do they fare after migration and are they in a better economic and social condition than legal migrants in the EU? Information from various sources, such as official EU databases, official EU reports, and migration literature pamphlets for the basis of the examination.