Push Factors: There are various factors that contribute to "pushing" or causing people to emigrate from Eastern Europe. Many of which involve the lack of jobs available. It is commonly seen that people are emigrating from Eastern Europe and fleeing to Western Europe due to the higher earnings and better welfare systems found there. . The emigration process started after the fall of the Soviet Bloc and accelerated until the early 2000s. Still leaving effects today, emigration has greatly impacted the sub-region. Due to the emigration of skilled workers, GDP growth and income levels at home have lowered. Nearly 20 million have emigrated from various parts of Europe, one being Eastern Europe, in hopes of finding more opportunity in a different part of the continent.
Pull Factors: Aside from the many push factors of Eastern Europe, there also a few Pull factors. With the Syrian Civil War, many refugees are leaving areas stuck by the war and immigrating to Eastern Europe to escape dangerous, war-zone environments. Many airstrikes and bombs around Syria have lead many Syrian refugees to come into different parts of Europe in hopes of being safe and finding a better life for themselves. The effects of immigration to Eastern Europe have been major. The borders surrounding each countries have gotten even stronger, trying their best to prevent more illegal refugee immigrants from coming into the country. There's been much discussion between the EU (European Union) about whether or not refugees should continue to be allowed in. Many protests have erupted in response to the refugees, mostly stating their claims on how the refugees could potentially be terrorists. All in all, it can be seen that immigration to Eastern Europe has had many effects not only on the people of the sub-region, but to those surrounding them.