Press release: Nordic-Baltic labour migration conference to outline new trends in immigration

Wednesday, 25 March 2015

This Friday, 27 March, Kumu Art Museum in Tallinn, Estonia will host the 'Labour Migration in the Nordic-Baltic Region. New Trends of Labour Migration – Ready for the Changes?' conference, at which researchers, experts and policy-shapers will discuss whether the region is prepared for new trends which could see Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania becoming migration destinations, including for those returning from other countries.

Professor Tiit Tammaru from the University of Tartu: "Emigration from Eastern Europe, including Estonia, is widespread. But in its shadow we've also seen gradual growth in immigration, the majority of which comprises people returning to their home countries. The number of people arriving in or returning to Estonia today is the same as the number who were leaving five years ago. Are we set to witness an about-turn in migration in Estonia? And in what respects – age, education, profession and so on – are these 'immigrants' different from the other people who live in the country?"

The migration conference, which is being held for the third year in a row, will focus primarily on the labour migration of European Union citizens and on the Nordic-Baltic region. Whereas just two years ago the topic of migration required more of an introduction, with discussion needing to be sparked and large-scale emigration and the threat of a 'brain drain' setting off alarm bells, this year's conference comes at a time when migration is the focus of fiery debates in Estonia and the Nordic countries – indeed, it was one of the key issues of the recent parliamentary elections in Estonia.

The organisers of the conference – the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia, the University of Tartu, the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and the Estonian Ministry of the Interior – will be presenting the latest facts, studies and developments, overturning myths and providing an overview of the options available to skilled migrant workers to adapt in their new environment.

"Migration is a personal issue for everyone in a world with open borders," says Christer Haglund, the director of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia. "Many people know someone who's gone to live in another country to work or study, or for the life experience, or to escape poverty, war or violence. That's led to a lot of opinions and strong feelings arising in relation to migration in a world where there are open borders and open information space. But we'll also be looking at and analysing new facts so as to shape a better future."

MEP Marju Lauristin will be giving an overview of the diversification of society that comes with immigration; the impact of migration flows on the Nordic countries will be discussed by Rasmus Ole Rasmussen from Nordregio; and Kersti Kivirüüt from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research will be looking at how children from migrant backgrounds cope in the education systems of the Baltic States. The programme for the conference and information on the speakers.

The working languages of the conference will be Estonian and English (with simultaneous interpreting).

Press contacts:
Madis Kanarbik, Head of the Tartu branch of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia | E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Mobile: +372 50 46 570
Tiit Tammaru, Professor of Population and Urban Geography, University of Tartu | E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Mobile: +372 50 57 331


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