Migration was an important factor for the integration of the Bulgarian economy in the common European space and the world economy, World Bank reported.

Over the past 15 years migration to Western Europe increased significantly. The majority of migrants came from Central and Eastern Europe, Bulgarian news agency BTA reported.

Money transfers that migrant workers make to their home countries were an important positive factor for the development of local economies, the report said.

Co-ordination of policies between countries were needed to guarantee that both the country where migrants worked and their country of origin would benefit, World Bank said.

Efficient migration policies needed to focus on short-term move abroad and the provision of stimuli for return to the country of origin, the report said.

According to the report, the countries that accepted most migrants included the US, Russia, Germany, Ukraine and France.