East-to-West Migration Remaking Europe

Janis Neulans is a Latvian laborer embarking on a journey that is becoming more and more common these days. Neulans travelled from Latvia to Ireland, where he felt that he could build the type of life for himself that is not possible in his home country. Since Latvia and nine other countries were added to the European Union in May 2004, nearly 450,000 people, most of them from the same strained economic circumstances as Neulans, have migrated westward, hoping to benefit from better work opportunities in Ireland, Britain, and Sweden. They have been aided by the benefits of EU citizenship, which allow them greater mobility and easier access to work permits. Immigration can and does lead, in certain instances to strife. Nevertheless, countries like Ireland, in particular, have made great efforts to accommodate these former citizens of the Eastern Bloc. Remembering its own history of mass emigration and domestic turmoil, the Irish possess both a booming economy with many opportunities and an appreciation for the migrant workers who are helping to fuel its growth. And while Neulans’ journey was fraught with difficulty, his future in Ireland seems hopeful. – YaleGlobal