Unit 5.1. – Introduction

The mobility of people has a direct impact on the socio-economic development of the EU. The investment and promotion of mobility is crucial in not only securing unity amongst the Member States but also to enhance the competitiveness of the European economy with the rest of the world. Therefore, mobility is seen as a tool to enhance social virtue but also as a political and economic necessity.

In recent years, due to the higher rates of youth unemployment within EU Member States, youth mobility has become a tool to enhance employability. Although mobility in itself does not create new jobs, it allows young people to look for employment elsewhere, developing personally and professionally thus, having better chances of getting employed. However, at a more subjective level, youth mobility is seen as an opportunity for the young generation to:

• experience new situations,
• encounter foreign peers
• learn about life in other countries.