Labour mobility within the EU, guaranteed by Article 45 TFEU, allows EU citizens to work in any Member State without a work permit. The free movement of workers helps balance labour market shortages and promotes economic integration. Regulation 883/2004 outlines the social security rights that mobile individuals have when moving between Member States.
Enhancing labour mobility and improving the portability of welfare rights have become growing priorities for the EU. By allowing citizens to seek employment opportunities across borders, labour mobility fosters a more integrated and competitive labour market and also supports the efficient allocation of skills across the EU, helping to address labour shortages in certain regions and sectors.
Building on its expertise in employment and social policy, Milieu has been actively contributing to EU labour mobility policy through projects for various Directorate-Generals of the European Commission and the European Labour Authority (ELA), focusing on policy implementation, legal analysis, and the socio-economic impacts of cross-border labour movements.
Some examples of Milieu’s work in this field are:
For over ten years, KU Leuven and Milieu have contributed to the annual report on intra-EU labour mobility for the European Commission (DG EMPL) offering a comprehensive analysis of labour mobility trends in the EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. These reports draw on the latest data to meet the requirements of Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2016/589, which mandates the monitoring and reporting of labour mobility flows and patterns within the Union.
The annual reports on intra-EU labour mobility cover various forms of mobility, including long-term, cross-border, and return mobility, and use Eurostat population statistics and the EU Labour Force Survey to assess key labour market indicators, such as employment, unemployment, and types of contracts, comparing mobile workers with nationals and third-country nationals. As such, the reports offer valuable insights to inform policies that enhance mobility, address labour market gaps, and ensure fair working conditions for all.
The latest report, published in 2023, includes two thematic chapters: one chapter on the labour integration of Ukrainians and one chapter on pension mobility.
Of the 2.6 million posted workers within the EU, a significant number in some Member States are third-country nationals.
Milieu, with the support of Eftheia, developed a report for ELA on the posting of third-country nationals in the EU, identifying cooperation challenges among Member States and offering recommendations to improve cross-border cooperation and the enforcement of EU labour mobility rules. The report provided clear and evidence-based recommendations with practical and implementable solutions, to improve and strengthen cooperation among Member States, facilitate the availability and exchange of information, and ultimately the enforcement of EU and national legislation on the posting of third-country nationals. The Milieu team carried out an analysis of the EU legal framework, clearly identifying the obligations resulting from EU legislation, as well as a mapping of cross-border cooperation practices and challenges, through national desk research.
An overview report maps existing practices, challenges and opportunities for cooperation as well as presents a set of guidelines to support in the correct application of EU law in this area.
In response to Europe’s ageing population, attracting skilled third-country nationals is becoming increasingly crucial for the region’s economic future.
Milieu, in collaboration with Ramboll, carried out a study for DG HOME, to support the impact assessment of a proposal for an EU Talent Pool. This initiative aims to streamline the process of matching third-country nationals with EU employers by developing an IT-based tool, operational processes, and a governance structure.
Milieu thoroughly assessed and compared multiple policy options based on effectiveness, efficiency, and coherence, ensuring they align with EU objectives. The research team also analysed the potential economic, social, fundamental rights, and environmental impacts of the various policy options. For each of the options outlined, the assessment performed by Milieu evaluated to what extent the developed model would improve Europe’s ability to attract skills and talent as part of the EU’s comprehensive and strategic approach to managing migration to the EU.
The full report can be found here: Study in support of the impact assessment on the development of an EU talent pool – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu).