Hearing on Union Citizenship in Practice: Making Union Citizenship a Reality on the Ground Steen Illeborg Secretary General Europeans Throughout The World (ETTW) 1
European expat citizens throughout the world • More than 14 million expat citizens within the EU have used their Right to Free Movement. • More than 80 million EU citizens live and work outside their home country worldwide. • ETTW: European umbrella organization for national expat organizations. 2
Challenges to Free Movement • The refugees crisis – makes defending the EU right to free movement difficult • Getting the facts right: detailed statistics, facts on economic impact of intra-EU mobility needed. • Accumulation of job seekers and costs in limited geographical areas:brain drain/waste • Scaremongering 3
Free movement – figures/trends • 14,6 mio, EU citizens on the move • EUR 15: 1,2 % of total pop. have moved • EUR 13: 5,6 % of total pop. have moved • Trends inside EU: East-West migration, Circular migration and ‘Homecoming’. • Outside the EU: more than 60 mio. EU Citizens 4
Immigration/asylum • 20 mio. 3rd country nationals currently residing within the EU (2013) • 16 mio. living in EUR 15 countries • Refugees to EU in 2015: more than 1 mio. 5
Concrete measures in support of Free Movement Rights • Defending right to free movement: figures and proportions, EC: ‘ Guard the Treaties ’! • Communicating mobile citizens ’ positive contributions to member states ’ economy. • Raising awareness - monitoring ECJ’s case law rulings and their implementation • Facilitating and enhancing voting rights – i(nternet)-voting 6
Concrete measures... • Encourage implementation of consular protection directive. • A Free Movement Solidarity Fund • Public consultations of expats inside and outside the EU. • Launch ‘structured debate/dialogue’ on Free Movement 7
Related ETTW Initiatives • Facts and Figures: Session on Migration Statistics at EUROSTAT Forum on ‘Social Statistics’ 28 -30 November 2016 in Luxembourg. • Public Consultation : Convening a ‘European Expat Convention ‘2018. Project with Maltese Government • Internet voting: Seminar on internet voting at the Parliament, 24 May 2016. Project with MEP Monica Macovei and European e-voting providers. • Monitoring ECJ rulings on free Movement : Project with Belgian universities. Spring 2016. 8
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