Survival and Expansion: Migrants in Greek Rural Regions Charalambos Kasimis* Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece social integration and mobility, is revealed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 6 May 2007; revised 28 April 2008; accepted 10 June 2008 Keywords: migrants; rural Greece; rural regions; southern Europe SOUTHERN EUROPE AND LABOUR MIGRATION I n the last 20 years, migration flows to south- ern Europe have increased considerably. The end result has been the evolution of all south- ern European countries from senders of migrants to migrant receivers and permanent migrant destinations. Following the integration of south European countries into the EU and the rapid transformation of their economies, the economic and social distance between southern and north- ern Europe has narrowed. The expansion, on the other hand, of the tertiary sector (an economic development specific to southern European countries) – where the seasonal nature of south- ern economies structured on industries like tourism, agriculture and construction, as well as the large size of an informal family-based economy – brought about a demand for flexible labour, independent of trade union practices and legislation. Furthermore, the fluid nature of southern economies based on tourism, commerce and shipping, often allowed the legal entry of migrants as tourists and visitors who went on to stay illegally upon the expiry of their visas. Extended coastlines and easily-crossed borders facilitate the entry of migrants, while the youthful demographic structure of the population complemented the ageing pattern of POPULATION, SPACE AND PLACE Popul. Space Place 14, 511–524 (2008) Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/psp.513 Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ABSTRACT Migratory movements towards southern Europe have increased considerably in the past 20 years. An important aspect of this process is connected to the agricultural sector and rural regions – a development connected to agriculture’s particular weight in the economies and societies of all southern European countries. However, their role is not restricted to agriculture. They are also related to non-agricultural economic activities and the overall support of aged populations, especially in marginal or mountainous rural areas. This paper draws on the qualitative and quantitative findings of two research projects carried out in three exemplar rural regions of Greece and over two different periods: 2000– 2002 and 2004–2006. The aim of the research was the empirical investigation of the economic and social implications of the settlement and employment of migrant labour in rural Greece. The paper moves from the presentation of the theoretical and methodological framework to the presentation of the main findings for each period of the research. The socioeconomic implications of migrant employment and settlement in the regions studied are revealed in the light of the recent Common Agricultural Policy changes, and the changes following the implementation of ‘regularisation programmes’. Additionally, the characteristics of migration trends in these regions are identified and the formation of new migrant social groups, with different prospects of * Correspondence to: Charalambos Kasimis, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Agricul- tural University of Athens, Iera odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece. E-mail: kasimis@aua.gr