The Republic of Serbia is traditionally a country of emigration, especially since the 1960s. As a result of this emigration, return migration has become an increasingly intensive migratory process in the 21st century. This study aims to examine the factors behind return migration, as well as to explore the characteristics of the reintegration process in Serbia, including the sustainability of return. This paper is based on a survey (N = 172) and interviews (N = 20) conducted with return migrants in Serbia. The research findings point to the diversity of the return migration factors, among which a longing for the country of origin is singled out as the most important. Regarding the reintegration process, this study highlights several differences that are apparent between retired returnees on the one hand and other returnees (students, employed, unemployed) on the other. The results show that the satisfaction with quality of life upon return is higher among older returnees and that the satisfaction with quality of life decreases as the respondents’ level of education increases. It is also found that the sustainability of return is connected to the life satisfaction and that respondents who plan to migrate again are the least satisfied with the quality of life compared to those who plan to stay and those who have not decided yet. This paper provides insights into some of the critical elements of the return migration and reintegration process in Serbia. Since return migrants can contribute to sustainable socio-economic development due to their human, social and financial capital, this study may be of relevance to the development of strategies and the implementation of policies in the domain of migration governance.

The expansion of the mining basin inevitably leads to a significant transformation of the area, resulting in substantial changes in both the natural environment and the socioeconomic sphere of the population's life. The Bor mine, established in 1904, has been synonymous with copper production in Serbia and Europe for 120 years. Surface copper mining takes place in the Veliki Krivelj and Cerovo mines. The Veliki Krivelj surface mine opened in 1983 in the cadastral municipality of Krivelj, encompassing the open-pit mine and the copper ore flotation plant. Over the years, the expansion of the mine has caused numerous changes within the settlement. This article focuses on Krivelj, the mining settlement 10 km north of Bor. Krivelj has been facing various challenges for decades, directly resulting from expanding the former Bor Mining and Smelting Basin, now known as the "Serbia Zijin Copper" company. Since 1970, relocation plans have existed, primarily targeting parts of the settlement directly affected by mining activities. Although planned relocation has been partially implemented in different phases, the idea of complete resettlement has not been abandoned. The Veliki Krivelj mine, owned by the Chinese company Zijin, continues to expand towards the Krivelj settlement, subjecting the population to numerous difficulties in terms of housing and health. This study provides an overview of the population relocation process, including the underlying principles, modalities, and scope of the process itself. The research aims to comprehensively examine the impact of the Veliki Krivelj mine on the past and recent displacement of the Krivelj settlement, as well as its effects on the environment of the settlement and surrounding areas. The overarching goal is to understand the contemporary socio-geographical changes, as well as the pressures and challenges faced by the population of this settlement.

This research paper focuses on the temporal and spatial variations of birth rates in Serbia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia from 2000 to 2022. One of the main objectives is to identify the factors that have led to differences among these three former Yugoslav republics, taking into account their specific demographic characteristics, levels of economic development after the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the influence of historical events on demographic processes. National-level data and data at the NUTS 3 statistical regional level were used to accurately capture regional disparities within each country. Data from population censuses conducted by national statistical institutes, as well as Eurostat data, serve as the basis for the analysis of these processes. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the demographic landscape in the region, a range of factors were considered. Factors such as inherited demographic conditions, migrations, economic influences, population policy measures, and the impacts of war events in the former Yugoslavia are of crucial importance for a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of shaping long-term birth rate trends in the region. The research pays special attention to spatial differences in terms of heterogeneity in birth rates both between the countries and within each country at the regional level. Furthermore, the study examines the dynamics of the demographic transition process in the previously mentioned countries. The selection of Serbia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia for this research is motivated by their specific demographic characteristics and varying levels of economic development following the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. By focusing on these three countries, the study tends to contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between demographic trends, economic factors, and socio-historical context in the region.

Development projects in Serbia have a signifi cant impact not only on economic fl ows, but also on spatial organization and demographic trends in the areas where they are implemented. Since they directly aff ECT economic opportunities, employment, infrastructure availability and the overall living conditions of the local population, development projects signifi cantly shape migration movements, encouraging diff erent forms of mobility and immigration. At the same time, these processes can produce negative consequences in the form of spatial unevenness of development, pressure on local resources and infrastructure, as well as potential emigration of the local population due to deterioration of the quality of the environment or social conditions. In this context, the paper deals with the analysis of the links between development projects and migration movements of the population in Serbia, with a special focus on the Kolubara and Bor mining basins, as areas of long-term development activities. The aim of this paper is to look at how development projects act as factors of attraction (pull) and rejection (push) of the population, as well as to identify the dominant forms of migration movements that occur in these areas. The research methodology includes the analysis of offi cial statistical data, a review of relevant scientifi c and professional literature, as well as a comparative analysis of selected case studies. The research results indicate that the impact of development projects on migration movements does not act in isolation, but in interaction with other social, demographic and economic processes in the area. Accordingly, the obtained results can contribute to a better understanding of the eff ects of development projects on local communities, and in addition, they can serve as an analytical basis for the improvement of development, migration and population policies, especially in the context of planning large investment projects and their demographic implications.

Since the mid-sixties of the last century, the area of Eastern Serbia has been facing a process of intensive emigration of the population. During the process of emigration, social migrant networks are created between the countries of origin of the migrants and the countries of their destination. As networks play a key role in shaping migration decisions and experiences, it is very important to examine their role and importance in the Republic of Serbia, and above all in its emigration zones. As the eastern part of Serbia (Braničevo and Zaječar regions) belongs to the oldest emigration zone, it is very important to determine how the networks were formed, their evolution and transformation, but first of all the influence on the attitudes and intentions of the population of this part of Serbia regarding migration. The work is based on the results of field research conducted in 2019, which investigated various aspects of migration phenomena, as well as the role of migrant networks, i.e. family, friends and acquaintances abroad in attracting new immigrants. In the research, the methods of focus group interviews , semi-structured interviews, as well as field observations in the urban and rural areas of the City of Zaječar were applied. The results showed that migrant networks shape decisions about migration and its outcomes, and their role is most often of key importance in making the decision about migration, because they represent the best and fastest way to obtain information about the potential country of destination, employment opportunities, but also in financial support upon arrival. The study of migration networks in Serbia, through comparison with other countries, will lead to a better understanding of this phenomenon, influence on future decisions on migration, as well as a more significant connection between local self-government and the diaspora in the function of development.