EURA-NET: Transnational Migration in Transition: Transformative Characteristics of Temporary Mobility of People

The phenomena surrounding temporary transnational mobility of people are giving rise to an increasing political and academic debate throughout the world. This multidisciplinary EURA-NET project produces scientifically sound and innovative framings for investigating transformative characteristics and development impacts of temporary transnational migration and mobility in highly industrialised societies, transformation countries (emerging economies, transition countries, e.g.) and developing countries. Theoretical and empirical studies will be accomplished to attain an understanding of the transformative characteristics of temporary and circular migration, e.g. the mobility of seasonal workers, students, tourists and corporate workers in China, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine, as well as in wider international and regional contexts. Research data will be gathered through interviews with individual migrants (and non-migrants) and national and international policy-makers. The findings in the European-Asian context will provide insights to be applied to other world regions. The final aim is to promote migration governance in a development perspective at all levels, from national to international. An associated set of questions concerns what challenges temporary transnational mobility poses to policy-making on European, national, international and global scales. By uncovering how politics structure people’s border-crossing movements in migrant-sending, migrant-receiving and transit countries and by shedding light on the international practices and lived experiences of individual migrants, the project will help European policy-makers to address challenges arising in the increasingly interconnected and demographically mobile world. The research outcomes will be communicated in the forms of policy briefs and scientific and policy reports to multi-level interest groups in European governance.