Original scientific paper
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IN THE ENLARGED EUROPEAN UNION: HOW FREE IS THE FREE MOVEMENT OF WORKERS?
Iris Goldner Lang
Abstract
This paper questions the necessity and legitimacy of transitional
arrangements in the field of free movement of workers imposed on the ten Central and
Eastern European states which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. It addresses the issue of
free movement of labour in the enlarged Union in the context of the policy reasoning
behind such transitional arrangements. Present transitional periods are contrasted with
other solutions (such as allowing immigration quotas), which would have been politically
fairer and psychologically wiser in confronting the arguments on the divide between
‘first class’ and ‘second class’ EU membership. The paper suggests that the results of the
most recent studies, showing that the fears of the old Member States were mostly
unfounded and that economic and social benefits result from the free movement of
workers in the EU, should be taken into consideration for the next enlargement.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
28561
URI
Publication date:
2.11.2007.
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