This post by contributor Anu Bradford originally appeared on Forum:Blog and is reposted here with permission.
Established by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the free movement
of labour across the European Union is a fundamental right enjoyed by all EU
citizens. It forms a core principle on which the notion of a prosperous,
peaceful and integrated Europe rests.
Even so, Europeans have historically exercised their right
to move freely across the EU far less than predicted due to linguistic and
cultural barriers that have kept many Europeans tied to their national labour
markets.
Yet, the ongoing crisis may be changing Europeans’ outlook
on free movement. Last year, migration from Greece to Germany was up by 90%.
Unsurprisingly, young Spaniards are also fleeing their domestic 50%
unemployment rate for growing markets in other EU countries that can still
absorb new workers.
As a result, many national governments struggling with high
domestic unemployment and angry electorates, compounded by fear of anticipated
uncontrolled migration flows that could result from a catastrophic collapse in
the Euro, are calling that basic freedom into question. The United Kingdom, for
example, has been vocal on these issues, threatening to unilaterally curtail
the free movement of people as part of its attempt to negotiate a “new
settlement” with the EU.
Unfortunately, this reaction is not supported by the facts.
Empirical evidence suggests that the fear that foreign workers will crowd out
domestic ones is misplaced. Migrant workers rarely displace the domestic labour
force. Instead, they contribute substantially to national economies through the
labour they supply, the taxes they pay and the services they consume.
Labour market protectionism will not lift Europe from the
current crisis, but will certainly create larger economic issues in the future.
Aging European member states will face a labour shortage on a massive scale in
the coming decades. Soon enough, European nations will be fighting for new
migrants, trying to attract workers at all levels from Europe and beyond.
As such, developing a nationalistic attitude towards the
labour market is a dangerous and short-sighted response to the ongoing crisis.
Eroding the foundation for labour mobility within Europe would set the EU
further back in its meeting the critical need of spurring growth and ensuring
long-term economic prosperity.
Beyond the substantial economic benefit, free movement also
paves the way for a common European identity. Ultimately, simply trading goods
across borders and integrating fiscal policies will not complete the necessary
foundation for closer political union.
The fundamental right of European citizens to move, work, and build their lives in other member states, including establishing families and nurturing friendships, fosters a true sense of common European citizenship. If Europeans start closing borders to their fellow Europeans today, before long there will be little remaining sense of "European" left to defend.
The fundamental right of European citizens to move, work, and build their lives in other member states, including establishing families and nurturing friendships, fosters a true sense of common European citizenship. If Europeans start closing borders to their fellow Europeans today, before long there will be little remaining sense of "European" left to defend.
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