This edition of Migration Policy Practice focuses on a range of themes, namely, migration and IT connectivity, the labour immigration system of Sweden, new migration and development strategies, and migration trends in the Arab region.

The first article describes the ways in which information and communications technology revolution enables the creation of faster and more affordable unregulated migration pathways, particularly through the many smartphone apps that are available for people travelling to and through Europe.

In the second article, authors argue that despite its flexibility, Sweden’s liberal, demand-driven policy for labour immigration from non-EU countries has often led migrant workers to vulnerable situations and has enabled employers to circumvent existing labour market regulations on decent working conditions and salaries.

The third article revisits the ongoing debate on migration and development, by stressing the importance of policies that aim to improve migrants’ integration into the host countries. 

The last article briefly presents the key findings of the 2015 Situation Report on International Migration: Migration, Displacement and Development in a Changing Arab Region, published recently by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and the International Organization for Migration. The report shows that, in general, borders in the region are closing rather than opening. In any scenario, migration, mobility and displacement in the Arab region will remain closely interrelated with and will impact neighbouring regions.

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