1 For EU citizens free movement is…  the most important achievement of the European Union (56%).  an economic benefit for their country (67%).

How many EU citizens are concerned ? 2  2.8% of the EU population million.  Annual mobility between EU countries : 0.29%. Annual mobility within the US : 2.4%

3  As a result of post-enlargement mobility between , GDP of EU-15 is estimated to have increased by almost 1%.  Intra-EU mobility contributes to addressing skill and job mismatch.  Intra-EU mobility still too low to cover the 2 million unfilled vacancies in the EU. Strong economic case for EU mobility

4 Effects on Member States' social benefits schemes examples provided by Member States

Who are the mobile EU citizens ? 5  Contributors to the public purse.

6 Who is entitled to free movement ?  Every EU citizen for a stay of up to 3 months.  After 3 months, non-active EU citizens need to have sufficient resources not to become an unreasonable burden to the host country.

7 Who is entitled to full access to social assistance in the same way as nationals ? Dir. 2004/38  Workers and their families.

8  All EU citizens who are habitual residents. Who is entitled to social security benefits in the same way as nationals ? Reg. 883/2004

9  Member States can refuse, terminate or withdraw free movement rights in cases of abuse and fraud.  Restrictions are allowed when a citizen represents a serious threat to public order or security.  Expulsion measures are possible and, in certain circumstances, re-entry bans. How to avoid abuses to free movement under EU law ?

10 EU funding to promote social inclusion

11 5 joint actions to make a difference 1.Fight against marriages of convenience : preparation of a handbook. 2. Clarify concept of "habitual residence" with guidelines. 3.As from 01/01/2014 : 20% of European Social Fund assigned to social inclusion. 4.Getting the money where it is needed : the Commission will organise a workshop with Member States on use of ESF funding. 5.Addressing local authorities' needs : organisation of a conference with mayors in spring 2014 on the development of free movement rights; development of an online tool on free movement rights.

12 Information sources Slide 1 Special Eurobarometer on citizens' rights and the performance of the EU administration, "European Ombudsman", April 2011 (full report available at Flash Eurobarometer 77, "European Citizenship",2012 ( Flash Eurobarometer 365, February 2013 (full report available at Slide 2 Eurostat migration statistics, supplemented by Eurostat EU LFS quarterly data, national data sources and DG EMPL estimates Slide 3 Employment and Social Developments in Europe 2011, Chapter 6: "Intra-EU labour mobility and the impact of enlargement", p Report by the European Integration Consortium 'Labour mobility wihtin the EU, in the context of enlargement and the functioning of the transitional arrangements', Nuremberg, 2009, p th quarter 2012, European Vacancy Monitor Issue 10 September 2013 at OECD Economic Surveys – European Union, March 2012 (full report available at Slide 5 Eurostat, EU Labour Force Survey and DG EMPL estimates Slide 10 Cohesion Policy: Strategic Report 2013 on programme implementation , COM (2013) 210, p. 11