Job Mobility

Every citizen of the EU has the right to work and live in any Member State without being discriminated against on grounds of nationality. Free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Treaty on the European Union (art. 3, 39, 40) and Community law.

Community rules on free movement of workers also apply to Member States of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Switzerland has a bilateral agreement with the EU on the free movement of persons.

It is important to note that following the enlargement of the EU in 2004 and 2007, there is a transitional period of maximum seven years during which Community law relating to free movement of workers will not yet apply fully across the enlarged EU. More information is available in the section "Living and Working", "Free Movement of workers".

Greater labour force mobility, both between jobs (occupational mobility) and within and between countries (geographic mobility), is believed to contribute to economic and social progress, a high level of employment, and to balanced and sustainable development. It also enables the European economy, employment and labour force to adapt to changing circumstances more smoothly and efficiently, and to provide the impetus for change in a competitive global economy. A greater degree of mobility between Member States will also foster closer political integration in the EU.

Around 2-3 million jobs are un filled in the EU while the rate of unemployment is around 10% (25% for the youth). Moreover, 59% of those who move while unemployed actually find a job within a year (compared to 35% of those remaining in their country).
Europe offers tremendous opportunities to anyone wishing to move in order to get ahead. Yet Europeans are remarkably static.
1.2% of the EU population moved from one region to another in 1999, whereas 5.9% of the population moved from one county to another in the US. Only 225,000 people (0.1% of the EU population) moved between two EU countries in 2000. 0.2% of the total working population in the EU live in one country and work in another. Of the 34 million workers living in border regions, 1.4 % or 497,000 work in a country other than their own (1999 figures).

There are many things to be gained from a period of study or work abroad: a real change of environment, new personal horizons, daily contact with a different culture, the ideal opportunity to learn a new language, the chance to enjoy working or studying alongside people from different backgrounds, exchanging ideas and comparing experiences