Immigration to European Nations

Europe has received immigrants from other nations and regions throughout its history. After World War II, Europe felt the need to organize itself to promote peace and human rights and to improve economic conditions. Important organizations in the process of European integration include the Council of Europe, established in 1949, and what we now know as the European Union (EU), established by the Treaty on European Union (more commonly known as the Maastricht Treaty), which was signed in 1992 and came into force in 1993. In an effort to improve the economy of some European states, different governments implemented specific measures to bring in outside labor. In 2009, the percentage of foreigners living in the EU accounted for 6.58% of its population, resulting in several ...