ESF Exploratory WorkshopHellenic Foundation for

European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)

Agency, Networks and Policy: Agency, Networks and Policy: The Case ofThe Case of

Poles in GreecePoles in Greece

Dr Anastasia Christou Dr Anastasia Christou

The Case of Poles in The Case of Poles in GreeceGreece

•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 MigrateMotivations to Migrate

•Prior knowledge from networks

•Prospects of economic development

Nodal PointsNodal 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 & NetworksAgency & 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 PoliciesRelevance 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)