Bound to share aims and instruments: the future of Euro-Mediterranean migration policies

As a preliminary step,the chapter depicts the ‘Mediterranean economy’ by grouping the countries fronting onto the sea in three blocks of somewhat homogeneous economies. Searching for the economic divergences in the structure and performance of the basin, the importance of contrasting demographic dynamics for the sustainability of a better economic path emerges, for both low-income and high-income countries. Thus the discussion demonstrates that international economic migration is a typical feature of capitalist economies which, in a context of a diversifi ed level of development, constitutes a common problem and a challenge whose solution requires participated and shared management. The next step to succeed in achieving this aim is to gain insights into the economic nature of migration and the characteristics of the Mediterranean migration system. Some general methodological suggestions and policy recommendations conclude the chapter.