Bulgaria - short profile of emigration and immigration Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation – RAPVITE Partner Elena Triffonova RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

STATISTIC FROM EUROSTAT (2008) Bulgaria was the country with the third largest of migrants in the European Union in 2008; Bulgaria, together with Romania, Poland, Germany and the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia), reported a larger number of emigrants than immigrants, unlike most of the other EU member states. In 2008, the share of nationals among immigrants were highest in Poland (75%), Lithuania (68%) and Estonia(48%); In 2008, EU member states received 384,000 citizens of Romania, 266,000 citizens of Poland and 91,000 Bulgarian citizens. In total, the number of migrants to EU member states from other EU nationalities was nearly two million. The main destinations of Romanian citizens in the EU were Italy and Spain. About 45% of all Polish migrants in 2008 chose to go to Germany. RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

About BULGARIA 2007 Eurostat Labour Survey According to the 2007 Eurostat Labour Survey, the overall level of migration of Bulgarian nationals to the EU is not substantial, with the exception of Mediterranean countries, notably Spain. There are currently approximately 100,000 Bulgarians of working age residing in Spain out of approximately 200,000 in the whole of the EU. Other significant countries of destination are Germany, Greece, and Italy. RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011 About BULGARIA The largest Bulgarian diasporas in EU is in Spain – about 300 000 people - 10% them are at the age up to 15 years The other destinations for Bulgarian emigrants are Germany, Greece, Italy, UK and USA (according to World Bank data). Bulgaria is among the countries from Eastern Europe with high educated and qualified emigrants RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011 About BULGARIA Illegal immigration from Bulgaria is into two streams: ! labor exploitation ! sexual exploitation - mainly to countries where the prostitution is legalized RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011 Bulgaria as an asylum Asylum seekers in Bulgaria for 2010: From Iraq – 450 people – 44% From Stateless – 100 people – 10% From Armenia – 60 people – 6% From Iran – 60 people – 6% From Afghanistan – 60 people – 6% Others – 290 people – 28% RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011

Why Bulgaria is not an attractive destination for immigrants? Operational barriers – the implementation of procedures for asylum seekers Lack of opportunity for economic and cultural integration RAPViTE International Forum, Senigallia June 2011