Mobility and Inclusion – Managing Labour Migration in Europe

With the growing integration of the world’s economies, labour migration, too, increasingly takes place on a global scale. The movement of people across borders confronts all parties - senders, receivers and of course migrants – with serious political, economic and social challenges. In Europe, for example, one of the main obstacles remains the resistance of its member states against the further coordination of migration policies by the EU.

Against this background mobility and inclusion provide a different perspective from which this complex of issues related to migration can be approached responsibly and effectively, both as criteria and goals for constructive policies: Concerning issues of migration, mobility not only refers to the ability and willingness, for migrants to move places for employment, but ensuring the right to mobility. Inclusion, on the other hand, refers to the responsibility of receiving states to assist migrants in their efforts integrating into society. This expressively also pertains to residents with migration background whose potential has long been neglected and their opportunities for (social) mobility within resident societies often denied.

Alongside the international conference “Mobility and Inclusion- Highly-Skilled Labour Migration in Europe” this dossier collects solution-oriented articles shedding light on several aspects of labour migration, amongst others questions of protectionism, demographic change and labour market dynamics. Beyond all differences it should be affirmed that migration and the “battle for talents” must not degenerate into an exploitative process, but must aspire to create win-win situations for senders, receivers and the migrants themselves.