Europeans move within Union for love and a better quality of life

Following a partner, being with family and having a better quality of life are the main factors that motivate Europeans to move to another country, new research shows. Of the 2% of European citizens who live in a country other than their own, only a quarter move because of employment.
1 in 2 has previously lived abroad, often with support from European programmes such as ERASMUS. The study noticed differences in motivating factors and profiles of those moving from one country to another.Spain is a primary destination for the older generation seeking a better quality of life, whereas the UK was a target for younger people seeking non-manual work. The profile of the average migrant within the EU is middle class, skilled and well educated, who generally has non manual work in the country of destination, and has a positive attitude to the EU.
The PIONEUR project, funded with just under 1m Euros from the EU's Research Framework Programme, studied the profile and attitudes of 5000 EU nationals resident in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.About 2% of European citizens currently live in an EU country other than their own. The study shows that 30% move because of their partner or family, 24% because they are searching for a better quality of life, and 25% for employment. The main pull factor that brings people to France and Spain is quality of life. In Italy it is a partner or family and people tend to move to Germany and UK to work and study. 1 in 2 of these migrants has lived abroad before and for the younger amongst them, this was often through their participation in programmes such as ERASMUS.
Those who live in another EU country are more politically active than the general population and are more left leaning in their politics. They are interested in the politics of their host country, particularly long term residents, and are slightly more likely to participate in European elections. Spanish migrants are the most likely to vote, Italians are the most critical about the politics of their home country and the British the most likely to take part in a public demonstration or contact their political representatives.
The PIONEUR project was co-ordinated by the University of Florence, and included partners from Spain, Germany, France and the UK. Its findings support similar studies about the profile of the average European living in a country other than his own, and the reasons for moving.
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