The European Commission has recently adopted a new communication on “Free movement of EU citizens and their families: Five actions to make a difference”. The Communication analyses the impact of mobile EU citizens on the welfare systems of host Member States and highlights evidence which suggests that most EU citizens moving to another Member State do so to work, that they are more likely to be economically active than nationals and less likely to claim social benefits. The Commission’s paper outlines five concrete actions to strengthen the right to free movement, while helping Member States to reap the positive benefits it brings. It also sets out the rights and obligations which EU citizens have under EU law and clarifies the conditions citizens need to meet to be entitled to free movement, to benefit from social assistance and to social security benefits.
The five concrete actions aim to help national and local authorities to:
- Fight marriages of convenience: the Commission will help national authorities implement EU rules which allow them to fight potential abuses of the right to free movement by preparing a Handbook on addressing marriages of convenience.
- Apply EU social security coordination rules: the Commission is working closely with the Member States to clarify the ‘habitual residence test’ used in the EU rules on social security coordination (Regulation 883/2004/EC) in a practical guide that will be produced by the end of 2013.
- Address social inclusion challenges: help Member States further use the European Social Fund to tackle social inclusion.
- Promote the exchange of best practices amongst local authorities.
- Ensure the application of EU free movement rules on the ground: the Commission will also set up by the end of 2014, in cooperation with Member States, an online training module to help staff in local authorities fully understand and apply free movement rights of EU citizens.
Download the Communication here
Download a study on the impact of non-active EU mobile citizen on social security
Eurodiaconia has been actively working to raise awareness at EU level of some of the gaps in free movement in the EU. Our members are more than aware of a growing number of EU citizens exercising their right to free movement but for various reasons, end up destitute and homeless, relying on emergency services. Eurodiaconia will soon respond more fully to the Communication.