On 18 December 2024, the JRC published the Atlas of Migration 2024, which aims to explain the complexities of international migration and shows the nuanced and multi-layered realities of migration dynamics. 

The Atlas notes that the decision to migrate is often a combination of several drivers (demographic, economic, environmental, political, security, human development, supranational), with individuals seeking to escape adverse conditions in their home countries while simultaneously being attracted to the perceived opportunities and benefits of a new destination.

However, the Atlas shows how complex the situation is. In fact, drivers interact with one another: for example, environmental degradation can affect economic livelihoods and security, which in turn influences migration. In addition, drivers have diverse impacts on individuals: for example, economic improvements may enable some people to migrate while encouraging others to stay. Drivers also evolve over time, making migration outcomes challenging to predict.

Representative data on the drivers of migration is scarce, but data on residence permits offer an overview of the reasons for which people are allowed to legally stay in EU Member States. These permits are issued for various reasons such as work, family reunification, education and humanitarian reasons, and thus they provide an indication of the motivations to migrate. 

The Atlas stresses that a nuanced understanding of migration drivers is crucial for policymakers to develop informed policies that address the multifaceted motivations behind migration. Further research on migration drivers as well as more high quality timely data on migration and its drivers can be crucial in this regard.

For further information, please read the Atlas of Migration 2024 attached below and visit this web page.