ESF Exploratory Workshop Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) Agency, Networks and Policy: The Case of Poles in Greece Dr Anastasia Christou

The Case of Poles in Greece Resilient to policy changes Have developed own institutions and networks Semi-autonomous community Positive social relations with locals Positive image by locals

Lack of interest in regularising migration status: Prospect of returning to Poland Expectation of EU citizenship following Poland’s entry into the EU in May 2004

Motivations to Migrate Prior knowledge from networks Prospects of economic development

Nodal Points Ignored nodal point: external control policies due to visa free regime/information received from friends, relatives and informal networks Knowledge before and after the migration process extending to employment policies, e.g. police authorities and labour inspection teams Gradual lifting of labour restrictions effective as of May 1, 2006

Agency & Networks Semi-autonomous status cultivated through personal networks fulfils educational and welfare needs. Social and religious institutions of their ethnic community provide assistance, guidance and support systems

Relevance of Policies Before migrating: well-informed & personal agency Taking action: ease of entrance (tourist visa or visa-free stays) & networks *awareness of undocumented status and related enforcement policies *internal control policies ‘successful’ in terms of awareness but ‘unsuccessful’ in their ineffectiveness (laxity of labour inspections) After arrival/settlement: new EU status brings relief, schooling access, health care, pensions, housing, access to services relatively unaffected by semi-legal status Formal channels for information not used Further empirical research required: effects of Poland’s EU entrance (2004) and liberalisation of free labour movement (2006)