EPRSLibrary By / October 10, 2013

Welfare benefits and intra-EU mobility

“Welfare tourism” expresses the concern that individuals use the right of free movement of persons with a view to benefiting…

© creative soul / Fotolia

“Welfare tourism” expresses the concern that individuals use the right of free movement of persons with a view to benefiting from a more favourable welfare system.

© creative soul / Fotolia
© creative soul / Fotolia

The principle of free movement of persons entitles EU citizens to reside in another Member State, under certain conditions. Only limited restrictions can curtail this right, namely temporary restrictions based on the Accession Treaties, agreed for the recent enlargements. Even if there are very few barriers to free movement, intra-EU mobility is limited and most of it is directed to EU 15.

National social security systems are coordinated to ensure that free movement of persons is not hindered. Expenditure on social protection is spread across a range of welfare benefits, in broadly similarly shares throughout the EU.

Assessing the impact of immigration is not straightforward. Some elements can help to assess its impact on social security, but those studies which do exist stress the lack of data relevant to the issue, and the limited impact on welfare systems.

Current concerns about “welfare tourism” mobility relate in particular to the imminent ending of transitional arrangements.

To read the whole briefing click here

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  • […] Although hotly contested in some Member States, whether they want to get out of unemployment, take up attractive job offers, or gain new experience, EU citizens have the legal right to work in any EU Member State. In 2012, 6.6 million EU citizens – 3.1% of the EU workforce – lived and worked in a MemberState other than their own. Another 1.2 million people lived in one EU country but worked in another. The European Commission supports facilitating intra-EU labour mobility. And you? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t – just make sure you know the facts with our keysource. Perhaps your fear is that your national welfare system will be exploited by “benefit tourists”? Make a reasoned judgement on the EU situation with our briefing on welfare benefits and intra-EU mobility. […]

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