Workshop on Migration in the Arab Region: Determinants and Consequences Istanbul, April 16-17, 2011 organised by Economic Research Forum and FEMISE Title: The Euro-Med Perspective on Migration: The Role of Economic and Social Reforms

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP) attempts to forge closer ties between the two rims of the Mediterraneann Sea, the European Union (EU) and the Southern Mediterranean (SM) countries and to play a more important and active role in the economic development of the latter. Unlike other developing regions, despite closer economic ties with the EU, economic growth in the SM countries remains slow if not stagnant. The reluctance of the governments of the SM countries to open up their economies makes international migration an alternative to their domestic economic development. Remittance as an immediate effect on economic growth in the migrants' home countries become a vital source of income by increasing households' purchasing power, empowering savings and investments. Returning migrants then become a source of indirect technology transfer and knowledge diffusion. While non-returning migrants continue to boost economic development in their home countries through trade and development project fundings through the organisation of hometown associations and diasporas. This is an introduction adequated to the circumstances before 1 January 2011. Afterwards changes will impact with such a force that is going to be impossible to know what will happen. The Pandora box has been opened and uncertainties multiplied. 2 First draft not for quotation.