{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.016472868217054265, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.298780487804878, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Trans-border population mobility at a European crossroads: Slovakia in the shadow of EU accession

The proposed enlargement of the European Union has focused attention on the implications for both those who do and those who do not become members in the 'first wave'. While discussions have largely centred on labour migration there are complex forms of mobility across different boundaries. This is illustrated through a case study of trans-border mobility between Slovakia and neighbouring countries in the EU, Central Eastern Europe, and the CIS. The paper stresses the complex geography of mobility, which is determined by the porosity of borders, the institutional context and regional economic complementarities. It also explores both the changing forms of labour migration and of shopping and petty-trading mobility. While highlighting the significance of EU enlargement for these deeply embedded patterns of mobility, it also emphasises the need to consider some of the broader influences such as international capital flows.