Internal vs external migration: comparative patterns within the EU

Migration is a structurally important factor influencing demographic and economic changes within the EU. This paper explores migration patterns between six EU countries: Germany, Spain, France, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania, over the period 2012-2023. The research employs both descriptive analysis and a two-way fixed effects estimation. Findings reveal a persistent core-periphery asymmetry between the West and the East, especially Romania. Results show that high levels of unemployment reduce the net migration balance, but short-run variations in GDP per capita have no impact. The change in the Romanian migration balance to positive after 2022 points to a new, higher circulation regime.