ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to analyse specific Polish experiences and relations between immigration and integration policies since 1989, when the country became a destination for predominantly temporary and transit migrants. At the same time, Poland has continued to be a country of net emigration; its considerable outflow of young workers contributes to labour shortages on local markets and a growing demand for foreign workers. Specific migration processes on the one hand and the gradual implementation of standards adopted in the European Union on the other have, over the last two decades or so, determined the evolution of immigration and integration policies in Poland. Nevertheless, comprehensive official policy documents and strategies in this area are missing or were at best short-lived. Thus the causes of a situation in which immigration and integration policies – and relations between them – can be described as ‘policy-tinkering’ rather than ‘policy-making’ are thoroughly discussed in this chapter.
