This Unit underlines the importance of mobility under the economic point of view.
Every citizen of the EU has the right to move freely within the territory of the European Union with the possibility to work and live in any Member State without being discriminated against on grounds of nationality. Free movement of persons is one of the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Treaties on the European Union and Community law.
Community rules on free movement of workers also apply to Member States of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Similarly, Switzerland has a bilateral agreement with the EU on the free movement of persons. The EU has viewed mobility as one of the greatest achievements of integration and a key opportunity for cohesion and enhanced cooperation between the Member States of the European Union. A greater degree of mobility between Member States will also foster closer political integration in the EU.
From an economic and social scientific aspect, geographic and labour mobility offer numerous benefits, particularly where labour work is relocated from regions with a surplus of workers to regions with shortages of workers. Therefore, one of the main benefits of mobility is that of having a more efficient allocation of labour and more productive regions. This highlights the belief that greater labour force mobility is likely to contribute to economic and social progress, a high level of employment and to a balanced and sustainable development. In addition, mobility enables the European economy, employment and labour force to adapt to changing circumstances smoothly and efficiently, and to provide the impetus for change in a competitive global economy.
