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The article discusses the political aspects of migration and austerity in the European Union countries. The crisis of austerity and a confrontation between the European Central Bank, European Commission and the International Monetary Fund on austerity measures as a condition of bailout funds is examined. The political debates and public opinion on the issues related to immigration and the definition of migrants in the context of the government of Great Britain are also highlighted.

There has been a substantial increase in demand for private domestic services throughout the European Union, and a significant proportion of these workers are non-citizens, many of them without documents. This paper addresses two questions: why is there an increase in demand for domestic workers in private households? and why is this demand being met by migrant women? While there are demographic and economic reasons for the former, the reproduction of lifestyle and status, and the avoidance of gender and generational conflict over domestic work are also important factors. Migrant labour is flexible, women are removed from family demands and can devote themselves to their employing family, moreover their 'race' and citizenship status differentiates them from their female employer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]