Temporary Migration and Policy Challenges in the Western Balkan Countries—Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia Perspectives

Predojević-Despić, Jelena and Lukić, Vesna (2024) Temporary Migration and Policy Challenges in the Western Balkan Countries—Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia Perspectives. In: Population Studies in the Western Balkans. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 63-97. ISBN 978-3-031-53088-3

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Abstract

Globalization has affected a rise in temporary labour and educational migration around the world. In this chapter, authors focus on the analysis of key trends of temporary migration in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), North Macedonia (NM), and Serbia (RS), the determinants of this phenomenon as well as policy responses. Relying on desk research and statistical data analysis, the paper aims to highlight the temporary migration in the Western Balkan region. Results reveal that besides continuous increase of temporary migration flows from BH, NM, and RS to EU-27 countries, those three WB countries attract temporary migrants in increasing numbers, mainly temporary labour migrants. The analysis of the migration strategies confirms that during the last decade, in RS and NM, unlike BH, there is continuity in the development of a framework for wider utilization of temporary and circular migration, students and labour mobility in the WB region. However, it is necessary to overcome the significant challenges related to the implementation. A summary of lessons learned was also included. The authors argue that innovative approaches to effectively manage temporary migration should be developed, both from the perspective of countries of origin and destination, including mobility rise in the entire WB region. Therefore, it is necessary to direct policy towards measures that integrate temporary migration into wider migration programmes. However, for evidence-based policy, a regular, updated, and synchronized statistical database for monitoring migration flows in all WB countries should be established.

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