The European history of migration has yet to be written, but the European Union has undoubtedly created a new chapter in this complex history.  The Schengen Agreement has facilitated the free movement of peoples across borders between EU member nations and is one of the most popular aspects of the EU political structure.

Less well known is the massive increase in forced migration within the EU, as women and girls are trafficked and forced to work in the European sex industry.

Social scientists have been examining modern migration and human trafficking, but often using state-generated data. Historians are beginning to study the long-term history of migration (forced and voluntary) in new ways, so there should be new research emerging on patterns of European migration.

A new article in the EU Observer discusses the latest EU judicial report on human trafficking in Europe.