Motivation and Migration Trajectories of EU Citizens on the Move: Repeat and Multiple Migrants in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain

ABSTRACT Intra‐European migrants move in different configurations, both in terms of trajectories (one‐off, repeat, multiple) and in terms of motivations (including work, family, education and/or lifestyle). In this article I provide a statistical picture of migrant trajectories and motivations based on a survey of EU internal movers coming from and residing in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. While around 49 per cent of migrants migrated internationally only once, 13 per cent moved repeatedly between their country of origin and their current destination, and further 38 per cent had lived in a different destination country in the past. The motives for migration and past trajectories are related to future migration plans. Multiple movers are more willing to move outside the EU in the future if they could significantly improve their working or living conditions and they are more likely to declare to live in another destination country in 5 years' time. Moving for quality of life is a good predictor of not being willing to return to the country of origin or move to another country in 5 years' time.