Portuguese intra-EU migration. The dynamics of an ongoing migration process

Ever since 2005, there has been an intensification in the outflows of Portuguese nationals, characterized by the transformation in the institutional context in which they occur, the emergence new destination countries, and the simultaneous resurgence of flows to traditional destinations. This article, applying data gathered from France and the UK, enhances the comprehension of contemporary Portuguese intra-EU migratory flows. It shows how this emigration is characterized by continuities and discontinuities with previous flows and by similarities and dissimilarities in the socio demographic characteristics of emigrants and their migratory paths and strategies. One proportion of these flows emerges as qualitatively different from past economic migration flows as regards both migrant demographic features and their migration processes. We may ascribe another proportion to the traditional economic migration framework that has enabled migrants to extend their opportunity structure beyond the national context in response to the obstructions experienced within national borders.