International migration and new mobility trends

World migration community covers 3% of the world population, in Europe it is around 7% and 4% in the Czech Republic. Europe is an important target for migration stimulated by the work offer but also by wars and natural disasters. In Western Europe at the end of the 20th century there were 20 millions of foreign migrants and also probably 3–5 million illegal migrants. Recently, we have faced new trends in international mobility which are different from traditional migration flows. They include mobility of multinational firms employees, mobility of students, pensioners but also mobility of professionals. Specific group under study is foreign migration or mobility of scientists and researchers. There is another phenomena connected with the development of modern technologies which stimulates the mobility in virtual space. Virtual mobility is another form of mobility which is using virtual space for communication, study, work and other aspects of life. The aim of this paper is to introduce the main trends in international migration including the traditional ones but stressing the new types of international mobility. The focus will be on the current situation in the Czech Republic related to migration. Europe is an important target for migration stimulated by work offer but also by wars and natural disasters. In Western Europe at the end of the 20th century there were 20 millions of foreign migrants and also probably 3–5 million illegal migrants. (Drbohlav, 2001). The assumption of the International Organisation for Migration estimates 230–250 million international migrants by year 2050 (Divinsky, 2005). World migration community covers 3% of the world population, in Europe it is around 7% and 4% in the Czech Republic (433 305 foreigners in December 2009). The most common nationality groups in the CR include citizens of Ukraine (30%), Slovakia (17%), Vietnam (14%), Russia (7%) and Poland (5%). The Czech Republic used to be a transit country for foreigners but changed into popular destination for migrants. They compose quite heterogenous group in terms of reasons for a stay or motivation for the future (Projekt Výběr). The latest data on international migrant stock show that estimated number of international migrants at mid-year 2010 for Europe is 69 819 282 which is 9.5 as a percentage of the population, for Eastern Europe it is 21 045 866 which is 7.2 as a percentage and for the Czech Republic it is 453 041 which is 4.4 as a percentage of the population (Trends in International Migration Stock). There are different types of migration and new forms of mobility are becoming more frequent. Physical mobility is not any more the only way which is opening possibilities for work, studies or communication. A virtual space can be a platform providing wide possibilities for virtual mobility. 1 Eastern Europe defined by the United Nations Population Division is composed of the following states: Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia and Ukraine (Trends in International Migration Stock).