Migration to and from Russia and South East Europe : what does the future hold Whereas Germany and Austria were the main destinations of Russians in the 1990s recently Italy Spain Portugal Greece Britain and Ireland became major destinations. Recent East European immigration was mainly directed to the Mediterranean countries to fill gaps in caretaking jobs. South Eastern Europe and Moldova can be characterized as emigration remittance economies with large parts of the active population having migrated to the EU Russia Israel Turkey and the Gulf states. A distinct Russia centered immigration system came into being during and after the dissolution of the Soviet empire. Although Russia’s population figures remained stable on balance the country went through a far reaching exchange of populations. In the future the demographic downturn and the loss of manpower are the main challenges facing Russia and also neighbouring Ukraine and Belarus. Russia with its new wealth due to soaring energy prices will become a competitor for engineers technicians researchers doctors and also non qualified workers.