Social Rights of Migrants from Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine in the Main EU Destination Countries

Abstract

by Alexey Kozlov

Social rights and access to welfare contribute to the choice of a destination country among immigrants from the Eastern-European Borderland. Though in the absence of administrative and language barriers the main stream of migrants goes to Russia, high incomes and considerable social rights in the EU countries make them attractive to the migrants. Visa restrictions, lack of interpersonal contacts and poor language skills restrict migration flows from the “Borderland countries” to EU. In spite of controversial conclusions in the studies concerning “social magnets” for immigrants in the EU countries the immigrants from the “Borderland countries” enjoy a system of social benefits to maintain a certain standard of life, especially in highly developed welfare states. Illegal immigrants and those employed in low-qualified sectors, especially in new EU member states, are socially unprotected. They are less likely to get social benefits and sometimes become objects of discrimination.