Tag: free movement of people

The EU justice and interior ministers on 8 November cleared the way for the enlargement of the Schengen area to include nine of the new eastern member states, making passport-free travel to and from these countries a reality by December. 

Italy may open its labour market to workers from Romania if Bucharest agrees to co-operate on combating organised crime. Different conditions may apply to Bulgarian workers.

According to a new study, despite 20 years of policies aimed towards creating a single market, the majority of Europeans continue not only to work but also to shop and invest exclusively in their own country.

European footballing governing body UEFA is introducing a new football rule setting a minimum number of 'home grown players' for clubs to be eligible for its football competitions. The implications for freedom of movement are being discussed within the EU.

The restrictions on free labour movement for the new Member States are a huge let down that may affect the Polish referendum on the constitution, says Poland's Commissioner Danuta Hübner.

A new report by the Commission aims to dispel fears of a huge wave of immigrants from the EU's new Member States.

The EU should fear a brain drain heading East and not a flood of cheap labour from new Member States, says a Dutch expert in labour mobility in an exclusive interview with EurActiv.

The European Parliament has adopted two own-initiative reports looking at the interplay between stricter measures to combat illegal immigration and the further development of a legal immigration policy.

This report of a conference held by Europartenaires on 8 October 2003 with Commissioner Vitorino on Justice and Home Affairs, outlines the main aspects of the future European area of freedom, security and justice.

Over the past 35 years, the number of international migrants has more than doubled to 175 million people, or nearly 3 per cent of the world's population, a new report reveals.

The Greek Presidency would like the 20-21 June Salonika summit to approve the creation of an Annual Report on migration and integration in Europe.

The EU Ministers of the Interior gave broad support to the Commission's proposal on harmonisation and simplification of asylum procedures.

Tighter measures to combat illegal immigration, a reconfirmation of its ambitions to conclude accession talks with ten countries by the end of 2002, and a modest reform of the European Council and the Council of Ministers. Those are the main results of the Seville Summit held from 21-22 June to conclude the Spanish Presidency.

As European leaders prepare tough measures to better protect Europe's borders and crack down on people trafficking, the UN fears that EU measures might contravene international conventions.

The EU's Employment and Social Affairs Ministers agreed on 3 December to modernise and coordinate the Member States' social security systems for migrant workers. They adopted a set of 12 parameters defining the options to modernise regulation (EEC) No 1408/71. This modernisation will allow legal non-EU nationals to move more freely within the EU without losing their social security rights.

A controversial scheme that allowed British immigration officials to be based at Prague airport and check the travel documents of people travelling to London has been terminated after just three weeks. The scheme was introduced in a bid to prevent Roma asylum seekers from travelling to Britain. It was abandoned after the Czech government withdrew its support following the public outcry provoked by television footage of an undercover Czech journalist of Roma origin being barred from boarding a London flight.

EU foreign ministers tackle the controversial issue of free movement of Central and Eastern European workers

Commission proposes five to seven year transition periods for workers from future Central and Eastern European EU Member States

Commission proposes five options to deal with free movement of labour after eastward enlargement

General Affairs Council has open debate on strategy to prevent conflicts erupting around the world

Free movement of people and services are to be the most important enlargement issues under the Swedish Presidency.

German Chancellor calls for a seven-year transition period on the free movement of workers from accession countries

EurActiv is opening a new dossier on the prospect of increased migration of Eastern workers to the EU after enlargement.

Commissioner for enlargement Verheugen said that transition periods for movement of Eastern European workers should be introduced upon EU enlargement.