STATUS ISSUES OF ECONOMIC REFUGEES AND CHALLENGES FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

Regional variation reflected in the economic development level of certain parts of the world is one of the most complex development problems. Europe, and especially the countries of the European Union for years have been faced with a large influx of migrations, caused by large regional differences between developed and developing countries, and which are primarily related to the strong depopulation, unfavorable demographic structure, economic backwardness of underdeveloped areas and the low level of infrastructural equipment. Determining the degree of economic and geographical development of the countries, regions, sub-regions, districts or municipalities requires parallel monitoring of multiple mutual indicators. The study of the phenomenon of migration has a long tradition and continuity within social and natural sciences and humanities. In extreme circumstances, when people are forced to migrate to other countries because it is their only way out of the area affected by the war, they are mainly qualified as refugees. Research analysis of these phenomena shows that the time horizon of the existence of economic refugees and migrations is equivalent to the history of humanity, and the current demographic picture of the world is partly the result of their existence. The remembered events of international migration, which began in 2015, and is likely to continue in the years that follow, indicate the potential and possible developmental effects of these demographic processes. But the focus of international attitudes towards the world of migrants is changing rapidly, and therefore, from being a creative factor of economic growth and development in destination countries, they are becoming a threat to the religious, political and social stability of the welfare of their destination countries.