What is the level of immigration and emigration?

There are currently more people immigrating into the European Union than there are emigrating from it. Immigration is a controversial issue in many member states such as Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Spain in particular receives most of the immigrants coming illegally to Europe from Africa, probably due to its large coastal area and its proximity and borders to Morocco at Ceuta and Melilla; African immigrants try to enter the country by boat from Morocco or Senegal or by jumping the border fences.<br\>

Estimations are that between 50,000 and 70,000 people illegally enter the European Union through Spanish borders or beaches. Border fences have been built at both the Ceuta and Melilla borders in an attempt to stop illegal entrance to the country. Illegal immigration is an issue in Spanish politics, and also a big human rights problem, since many people die during the journey. Spain has been Europe's largest absorber of migrants for the past six years, with its immigrant population increasing fourfold as 2.8 million people have arrived, mostly from Latin America. <br\>

The net migration rate for the EU in 2008 was 3,1 per 1000 inhabitants. This figure is for migration into and out of the European Union, and therefore excludes any internal movements between member states.Net migration has remained an annual level of between 1.5 and 2 million since 2003.<br\>