Labour Mobility in the European Union

Abstract

One of the basic principles underlying European integration is the free movement of labour within the EU. Formal restrictions on labour mobility have been removed, and the principles that govern the conditions for access to employment for EU workers in member states have been gradually developed. Legislation on freedom of movement gives EU workers, with some exceptions, the right to take up employment and receive treatment as if they were nationals of that country. In this chapter I am concerned with the process of intra-EU mobility. The chapter begins by documenting the Union’s legislative and policy framework on freedom of movement since its introduction. It is not the aim to cover all EU efforts in the area, but rather to present an overview of the European Union’s commitment to facilitate mobility. A review of past and current patterns of labour migration between member states follows to assess the significance of intra-EU labour migration. The final section of the chapter identifies the specific obstacles to skilled labour mobility within the EU in the context of mainstream theories about migration behaviour and literature that considers the potential barriers to mobility.