Juxtaposed intra-EU youth mobility: Motivations among returnees to Latvia

All across Europe, a high share of youth is involved in intra-EU mobility. This paper explores the existent juxtaposed motivational aspects for young return migrant groups within the EU. Diverse patterns of emigration and return motivations frame the issue of return and reveal existent trends. With this study, we explore the juxtaposed motives triggering return migrants’ initial emigration, as well as the main motives for return migration. Our study is based on quantitative analysis, using data from a panel survey of the Horizon2020 YMOBILITY project. Comparing first move and return motivations of Latvian and other intra-EU return migrants reveals specificities for each of the groups. In particular, the results corroborate motivations for departure – economics, self-development and various other factors for both Latvian and other intra-EU returnees; students form a specific subgroup of intra-EU returnees. The main turning points for both groups are achievement of migration goals and a multi-layered combination of factors; however, in the case of Latvian returnees, homesickness and nostalgia dominate in the decision to return.