The internal free movement of labour is a cornerstone of the EU policy agenda for some years, with the underlying objectives of encouraging cross-country exchanges and balancing differences related to specific national systems. Both migration and mobility are necessary for addressing skills imbalances and responding to labour market demands. Mobility provides opportunities for EU citizens.
Given the complexities around migration and mobility, socioeconomic research is key in order to inform policy responses. Eurofound’s extensive research on different aspects of migrants and mobile workers primarily focuses on geographical mobility. It mainly considers the labour market situation of EU citizens in terms of intra-EU mobility or internal migration, on the one hand, and migration of third-country nationals to the EU, on the other.
Analysis in 2023 focuses on the social impact of migration, looking at the challenges associated with the influx of over five million displaced people as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
Other research will commence on labour shortages and underutilised potential of workers, examining policy interventions and company practices. This will have a specific focus on sectors in which labour shortages were aggravated by the COVID-19 crisis. Case studies will also be integrated on corporate initiatives to integrate migrants from Ukraine.
Eurofound has looked at trends and policies in relation to labour mobility in the EU, as well as the situation of posted workers in the Member States.
Following the massive influx of asylum seekers into the EU during the period 2015–2017, Eurofound research has explored the role of public services in the social and economic integration of refugees and asylum seekers, focusing specifically on labour market integration, housing, social services, health and education services.
This followed on from research on approaches to the labour market integration of refugees and asylum seekers carried out as an immediate response to the 2015 refugee crisis, updating information on legislation, examining labour market integration and exploring the role of the social partners.
Research on migration, labour market policies and effective integration of third-country nationals has explored policy coordination between Member States and also the important role of the social partners in relation to third-country migration.
Eurofound has also carried out a study on the regulation of labour market intermediaries and the role of the social partners in preventing trafficking of labour. Other research has focused on the impact of mobility and migration of healthcare workers in central and eastern European countries.
Eurofound conducted an earlier study from 2006 to 2010 with a network of over 30 European cities working together to support the social and economic integration of third-country migrants. The European network of cities for local integration policies for migrants (CLIP) encouraged the structured sharing of experiences through the medium of separate city reports and workshops that covered four research modules on housing, diversity, intercultural policies and ethnic entrepreneurship. The lessons learnt and the conclusions drawn from the results of each research module have also contributed to the national and the European debate on integration
The EU, governments and the social partners face many challenges associated with internal mobility in practice. The European Parliament resolution of 20 May 2021 focuses on the impacts of EU rules on the free movements of workers and services, promoting intra-EU mobility as a tool to match labour supply with demand, as well as matching labour market needs and migrants’ skills. This has been compounded by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and yet another refugee crisis on a scale not seen since World War II.
At the same time, the high inflow of refugees in 2015 (often called ‘the Syrian refugee crisis’) has had a profound impact across the EU and beyond. Migration is one of the European Commission’s top policy priorities. Adopted on 23 September 2020, the Commission’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out a fairer and more integrated approach to managing migration and asylum. It aims to reduce incentives for irregular migration, develop legal migration pathways and rebuild trust between Member States in managing migration. Among the initiatives included in the package are an action plan on integration and inclusion for 2021–2027, a skills and talent package to attract skilled talent in different labour markets, as well as a legal migration policy. In June 2022, the EU Member States reached agreement on several reform aspects relating to the screening and registration of migrants arriving at the EU's external borders.
In response to war in Ukraine and the influx of refugees to the EU, the European Council invoked the Temporary Protection Directive for the first time in its history, extending it until 4 March 2024. It offers temporary protection for displaced persons and includes special protection for children, access to education and healthcare, as well as access to jobs, accommodation and housing.
In April 2022, the Commission put forward an ambitious and sustainable legal migration policy, which includes specific actions to support the integration of those fleeing the war in Ukraine into the EU's labour market. Subsequently, in June 2022, the Commission published results of a special Eurobarometer carried out in 2021 around public opinion on the integration of immigrants in the EU.
Eurofound’s work on migration and mobility links in with the Commission’s 2019–2024 priority on promoting our European way of life.
