The money sent by migrants to their former country of residence, usually referred to as workers' remittances, from the EU27 Member States amounted to €26 bn in 2006, compared with €23 bn in 2005.

These figures include both intra-EU27 and extra-EU27 flows. Flows to other Member States accounted for a much lower share than flows to countries outside the EU27. In 2006, intra-EU27 flows accounted for €7 bn or one quarter of the total, and extra-EU27 flows for €19 bn or three quarters, the same proportions as in 2005. Spain, UK, Italy, Germany and France are the main remitting Member States. These five Member States account for more than 85% of total EU27 remittances.

The data show that, in 2006, the EU27 as a whole remitted more than double the amount it received from third countries (€19 bn sent compared to €9 bn received).