(Re)Turning Around

This chapter argues that Greek Gastarbeiter migration and their return from Germany post-1973 significantly influenced Greece’s push for European Economic Community (EEC) membership. The analysis of political discourse and government priorities reveals how changing migration policies softened Greece’s initial reluctance towards accession. Returning Gastarbeiter contributed to Greece’s democratic transition, bolstering it with their savings and political support. Employing a qualitative methodology, the chapter examines policymakers’ and social scientists’ reports to explore the interplay between migration and Greece’s European integration. The findings highlight the pivotal role of return migration in shaping Greece’s European trajectory, aligning national interests with broader regional integration goals. This study thus provides a nuanced understanding of migration’s influence on European integration.