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Erasmus + "Traces of otherness: Developing Citizenship"

Augustė Vilkaitė, Liutauras Račkauskas, Lithuania

Information was provided by:

• Gerda Vaitkutė, Lithuania
• Fleur Kandel, The Netherlands
• Sina Wogh, Lisa Schuhmacher, Germany
• Eva Velkovska, Andreja Popovikj, North Macedonia

Imigration 1990 until nowadays

Germany, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Lithuania

• The general definition of a refugee

According to the official definition of “The UN Refugee Agency”, a refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal, and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.

• Where did the refugees of 2015 come from and what were the reasons for their escape?

The conflict in Syria continues to be by far the biggest reason for migration. In the civil war in Syria, all parties involved committed serious war crimes and violations of human rights from the very beginning (2011). Bomb attacks on residential areas, terrorist attacks, arrests, and torture became normality. In addition, there were air attacks by the USA, Russia, and Turkey, and by 2015 some 230,000 people were killed in the war. Lack of work permits, food shortages, high prices, they delivered hunger, begging, debt, violence, corruption, and forced labor. So, they had to escape again.

• What did Rutesheim do to integrate the refugees?

From the very beginning, the city of Rutesheim has been successfully and extensively involved in the reception of refugees in the context of the follow-up accommodation. Due to the great response and the commitment, in February 2015 more than 60 interested people founded in the social group “Freundeskreis Rutesheim” to support the new arrivals. In the meantime, there is a fixed circle of volunteers and many supporters who have set themselves the goal of living and promoting integration work together with the people of new-Rutesheim. In particular, these include the “Café International", which has been opened weekly since May 2015, first in the rooms of the Old Town Hall and then, from summer 2016 in the parish hall at Pfarrstraße 15. There, the refugees can meet and talk with each other.

Migrations to/from North Macedonia (1990-today)

• The most notable reasons for people leaving North Macedonia are because of the economy, job offers, and higher education.
• As for people moving to the country, most people move to North Macedonia because of jobs, better living standards, marriages, family, etc.
• Today in overseas countries such as the USA, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and a few other countries live and work around 540 000 Macedonians.
• Approximate numbers of Macedonian who have migrated in these countries:
  • Argentina- 20 000
  • USA (Detroit-40 000,New York- 20 000)- 150 000
  • Canada ( Toronto-90 000)- 190 000
  • Australia (Sydney- 40 000)- 180 000

Statistics from 2007

• The number of people that moved to North Macedonia: 1227.
• The number of citizens of North Macedonia that moved to North Macedonia: 366.
• Most of the people that moved in the country were in their twenties or thirties predominantly female (733 f./494 m.).

Statistics from 2017

• The number of people that moved to North Macedonia: 2322.
• Most were from Europe, especially (Turkey – 926, Serbia – 305, Kosovo – 242, Albania – 231, etc.)
• Most of the people were in their twenties.

Who immigrates to Lithuania?Despite often being associated with the arrival of foreigners, immigration includes all people – both returning Lithuanians and foreigners – who intend to reside in Lithuania for more than one year. Statistics show that during the period from 2004 to 2016 immigration flows to Lithuania consisted mainly of returning Lithuanians (about 80 percent) and 20 percent were foreigners from other EU and non-EU countries.

Emigration 1990 until nowadays

Germany, North Macedonia, The Netherlands, Lithuania

The number of people: As of 2014, about 16.3 million people with an immigrant background were living in Germany, accounting for every fifth person Of those 16.3 million, 8.2 million had no German citizenship, more than ever before. Nowadays around 180 000 Germans emigrate the country every year and around 130 000 return to the country. Reason: Most Germans emigrate after graduation as a way to advance to the next step of their career and secure a better job. However, some emigrate due to the fact that living in other countries is cheaper than in Germany, cheaper rent, produce and services. Some leave Germany because of family who is already living in other countries, maybe their partner is of a different nationality and they emigrate to live with them, parents might emigrate to live in the same country as their children. Countries: For the past 10 years, the countries with the highest number of German immigrants are Switzerland (200 000), the USA (127 000), Austria (108 000), and Great Britain (82 000)

The number of people: Since 1990 the number of Lithuanians who have migrated to different countries is around 710 thousand. Reason: According to research, more than 66% of the 4th wave emigrants identified small salary as the main reason for their decision to leave the country; more than 42% said that prices of products and services in Lithuania were too high. And since In 2018, more than 73.6 percent of emigrants were aged between 15 – 44. This age group only makes up about 36 percent of the entire Lithuanian population. In the long run, as the number of young people is decreasing due to emigration, this causes serious demographic problems – diminishing the number of marriages, decreasing birth rate, lack of workforce. This causes a domino effect since as young people leave the country, the prices for services and products increase due to the diminishing workforce, thus leading more people to leave the country. Countries: According to the data provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Migration Department, approximately 463 thousand Lithuanians are living abroad. The majority of which reside in the United Kingdom (44 percent), Norway (10 percent), Germany (12 percent) and Ireland (8 percent)

The number of people: The numbers are not in great amount compared to the other countries, but when the population number of Macedonia is taken into consideration is a very big percent of the population, estimated to be 500,000 up to 1,000,000. According to the latest UN report on emigrants, 534,720 Macedonians live abroad. Emigration has a long history in Macedonia and continues to be important. However, the pattern of emigration has changed significantly since independence (1991), and this provides opportunities for Macedonia and its diaspora as well as learning new policies. Reason: After the Independence of Macedonia, the main reason for emigration abroad was an investment, companies’ expansion on the European market, and business realization. Since Macedonia had about 35% of unemployed citizens in 2007 the number of vacancies was very narrow and the people started to emigrate for employment reasons. As the economy of Macedonia has grown significantly since 2005 the reason for emigration altered as well. In the following years, most emigrants are students in order to get better education and qualifications for future jobs in foreign countries or Macedonia. Countries: In 1990, the first five destinations for emigrants from Macedonia were: France, Italy, Hungary, Australia, and Turkey. However, since Macedonia became an independent state, the number of emigrants in Turkey has risen sharply, surpassing all other destinations in terms of the total number of emigrants (Chart 4). In contrast, migrants in France and Hungary have returned or moved elsewhere. The reason for Turkey's growing importance as a destination is unclear, but Turkey's policy on the diaspora during the 1990s and 2000s may have been crucial. In the 1990s, Turkey began an active policy of working with their diaspora around the world, connecting with Turkish communities abroad. In 2012, Turkey established the Office of Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB). During this period, Turkey also implemented the "Blue Card", which provides Turkish immigrants with the right to be full citizens. The "blue card" makes it easier for the Turkish diaspora to return and invest in Turkey. Turkey's strong economic growth and EU harmonization reforms have probably played a major role in attracting immigrants. From 2002 to 2007, Turkey's average GDP growth was 7.1 percent per year. Turkey's policies on the diaspora are an example of Macedonia and its diaspora. Macedonia can strengthen contact with the diaspora through new institutions that have played a more active role in the lives of Macedonian emigrants. Macedonia can also implement its own version of the Blue Card that will make it easier for the diaspora to invest and operate in Macedonia. Similar "maps" are used in several countries, including Poland, India, and Ethiopia. Macedonia should also embrace EU accession-related reforms and use this as an advantage for the diaspora and FDI. But above all, Macedonia needs to remember that there is no substitute for economic growth. Sustainable economic growth and rising living standards are likely to have the strongest impact on attracting investment and migration to the diaspora. The new government must ensure strong growth after the recent results of the stagnation of the economy. The growth of emigrants in Turkey also offers an opportunity for companies in Macedonia. These emigrants could help boost exports and investments between the two countries.

Emigration in the 20th century From 2001, more and more Dutch emigrate abroad. This is due to the crowds, the weather, the limited space, the insecurity in the Netherlands. In the first quarter of 2006, 29,000 people left the Netherlands, and that continues to follow, because the Netherlands is full. The emigrants leave to neighboring countries such as Belgium and Germany, but they also often leave for New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Australia and South Africa.