ON-THE-MOVE –"The reality of free

movement for young European citizens

migrating in times of crisis"

Awareness-Raising Event

Leuven, Belgium

9 October 2017

Jeffrey David Turk

Co-funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union

Disclaimer: This event has been organised with the financial support of the Citizenship Programme of the European

Union. The materials presented and the opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the ON-THE-MOVE

collaboration members and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.

Overview

The ON-THE-MOVE project as a whole

The Belgian National Report

The Manual for Free Moving young EU citizens

The manual for the authorities

Discussion

Part I

ON-THE-MOVE

the project at a glance

ON-THE-MOVE

• Underlying assumption: barriers to the exercise of

fundamental rights, in this case free movement, cannot be

addressed unless accurately identified.

• The obstacles that young people face with respect to

legislation, access to finance and resources, to name but a

few, are very different from other age groups.

• Complementing the existing knowledge through this

perspective enriches the understanding of existing barriers

and obstacles to free movement in a targeted way.

ON-THE-MOVE

15 partners

Sending and Receiving countries

• Sending countries: BG, EE, GR, PL, PT, RO

• Receiving countries: BE, DE, FR, NL, UK

• Mixed countries: AT, CY, ES, IT

(South, East, Other)

Four categories of interviewees

• Leavers: Young people (25-35) who wish or are

planning to move;

• Remainers: Young people who have moved to

another EU country and remain there;

• Returnees: Young people with experience of

moving who have returned to their home country;

• Authorities involved in free movement

Selection criteria for young movers

• Interviewees were between 25 and 35 years

of age at the time of moving;

• Interviewees planned and executed their

move independently:

i.e. not assisted by a university (in the

context of study)

or by an employer (in the context of work).

• (no employees of EU institutions in BE)

Categories of young movers interviewed

Leavers Remainers Returnees

Sending countries 97 47 73

Receiving countries 20 180 0

Mixed countries 47 75 28

Total 164 302 101

567 interviews with young movers

(68 interviews with authorities)

Mostly face to face interviews

Interviews were structured by means of a

topic guide with four main parts:

1. Views on free movement

2. Drivers for free movement

3. Obstacles and barriers to free movement

4. Suggestions and solutions to issues

identified

http://euonthemove.eu/lessons-learned/

Report on individual experiences of young people on the

move

Views of authorities and stakeholders in sending and

receiving countries on free movement

Drivers and barriers to free movement in sending

countries

Drivers and barriers to free movement in receiving

countries

A closer look to overcoming barriers

Outcomes: manuals

• MANUAL for young people on the move:

Addressing myths and stereotypes among young people

on the move

• MANUAL FOR AUTHORITIES:

on good practices related to the freedom of movement in

the EU

• (to be presented after the Flemish/Belgian National

Report)

Part II

Belgian National Report

Work of the CeSO group

at KU Leuven

National report for

Flanders/Belgium

CeSO at KU Leuven team:

• Jeffrey David Turk,

• Valeria Pulignano and

• Nele Plas

Disclaimer: This report has been produced with the financial

support of the Citizenship Programme of the European

Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the

authors at CeSO/KU Leuven and can in no way be taken to

reflect the views of the European Commission.

http://euonthemove.eu/belgium-national-research/

Flemish/Belgian National Report:

A. Situation of young people and migration patterns

B. Policies and Legislation

C. Experiences of young people on free movement

D. Analysis and recommendations (see manuals)

Part A. Situation of young people and migration patterns

1. Current situation and challenges for young people

2. Migration patterns and trends for young people across Europe

1. Persons of non-Belgian nationality in Flanders

2. Persons of foreign origin

3. Influx of non-Belgians

4. Age differences

5. Social Cohesion

3. The ways young people are reacting to these challenges and to the

economic crisis

1. Literature on free movement

2. Media reports on youth and free movement

4. Interim findings

Part B. Policies and Legislation

1. Legislation implementing the Directive

2. Other relevant legislation

1. Legislation regarding family members of EU citizens

2. Requirements for EU citizens staying in Belgium

3. Competent Authorities

4. Policies/programmes addressed to young people

5. Interim findings

Part C. Experiences of young people on free movement

1. Sample and Method

2. EU Citizens in Belgium

1. Previous experience and information about free movement

2. Drivers

3. Barriers

4. Practices that promote or hinder the right to move freely

5. Suggestions

3. Belgians who plan to move

(1. – 5. as for EU Citizens in Belgium)

4. Views of representatives of authorities

(1. – 5. as before)

5. Interim findings

Part D. Analysis and recommendations

1. Synthesis of results and conclusions

2. Recommendations

(See manuals)

From the Flemish/Belgian National Report:

Part A: 2.3. Influx of non-Belgians

and

Part C:

1. Sample and Method

2. EU Citizens in Belgium

1. Previous experience and information about free movement

2. Drivers

3. Barriers

Table A-3: Nationals versus movers in EU statistics (2010). Sources: Eurobarometer 73.3 (March 2010) and Eurostat online database (accessed on 21 November 2013); taken from:

Nationals Movers into country Total

Stayers (%) Movers (%) EU movers (%) 3rd country citizens (%) (%)

EU 77.9 15.7 2.4 4.0 100.0

Belgium 77.2 13.1 6.6 3.1 100.0

Bulgaria 88.3 11.2 0.1 0.4 100.0

Czech Rep 89.2 6.8 1.3 2.7 100.0

Denmark 67.3 26.7 2.1 3.9 100.0

Germany 81.3 10.0 3.1 5.6 100.0

Estonia 66.7 17.4 0.8 15.1 100.0

Ireland 66.7 24.6 7.0 1.7 100.0

Greece 77.6 14.0 1.4 7.0 100.0

Spain 76.9 11.5 4.4 7.2 100.0

France 77.3 16.9 2.0 3.8 100.0

Italy 85.6 7.4 2.1 5.0 100.0

Cyprus 57.3 26.8 10.4 5.5 100.0

Latvia 67.1 15.5 0.4 17.0 100.0

Lithuania 81.9 17.0 0.1 1.0 100.0

Luxembourg 24.6 32.3 37.1 5.9 100.0

Hungary 88.4 9.6 1.2 0.8 100.0

Malta 78.8 16.6 3.0 1.5 100.0

Netherlands 73.2 22.8 1.9 2.1 100.0

Austria 73.5 16.0 3.9 6.6 100.0

Poland 88.2 11.7 0.0 0.1 100.0

Portugal 81.0 14.7 0.9 3.4 100.0

Romania 89.9 9.7 0.0 0.3 100.0

Recchi E. (2015) ‘Over mollen en bevers: Mobiliteit binnen de EU, denationalisatie en Europese

integratie van onderaf’, in Timmerman et al (eds.) Intra-Europese Migratie en Mobiliteit, Leuven,

Leuven University Press.

Figure A-7: Foreigners in Western Europe.

The share (in percent) of foreign EU nationals and the share of nationals from outside the EU, both with respect

to the total population on January 1, 2014.

Source: Eurostat, ADS (Algemene Directie Statistiek - Statistics Belgium); calculations of SVR (Studiedienst

Vlaamse Regering - Research Centre of the Flemish Government); taken from Vlaamse overheid (2015; p. 255).

% foreign EU nationals % non-EU nationals

Lu

xem

bo

urg

Bru

ssels

Regio

n

Belg

ium

Wallo

on

Regio

n

Germ

an

y

Un

ited

Kin

gd

om

Fle

mis

h

Regio

n

Fra

nce

Neth

erl

an

ds

Table C-1: interviews done compared to population numbers in Flanders.

Country of

origin

Target number of

interviews

Number of

interviews done

Success

rate for

target (%)

Austria 3 1 33

Bulgaria 5 3 60

Cyprus 3 0 0

Estonia 3 3 100

Greece 3 5 167

Italy 6 5 83

Poland 7 6 86

Portugal 3 2 67

Romania 7 4 57

Spain 5 3 60

Total 45 32 71

Figure C-1: The number of interviews by nationality compared to recent flows of free movers. *Austria, Cyprus, Estonia and Greece were not among the top 10 incoming nationalities in 2014, so the data on their numbers is not present in the table.Sources: ADS (Algemene Directie Statistiek - Statistics Belgium); calculations of SVR (Studiedienst Vlaamse Regering - Research Centre of the Flemish Government); figure adapted from Vlaamse overheid (2015; p. 257).

62%

97%

76% 104%

238%

139%

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Country of origin

Numbers of interviews done compared to the top 10 nationalities immigrating into Flanders in 2014

(percentages roughly indicate representativeness)

thousands of immigrants in 2014

number of interviews done

Additional interviews

• We also interviewed 3 young Belgians from the Flemish

Region in late stages of moving to France (2) and Germany

(1); and

• Interviewed 4 experts:

o 3 from different parts of the Agency for Social and Civic

Integration (Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering); and

o 1 from the EU Rights Clinic in Brussels

Gender balance?

• Into Belgium

• 20 female

• 12 male

Belgian movers

2 female

1 male

Experts

2 female

2 male

Main drivers for movement into BE/Flanders

• Work 17/32

• Joining family 16/32

• (both 8/32)

• Looking for something new 8/32

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Language

Registration requirements

Information

Cooperation with authorities

Finding work

Making friends

Cost of living

Weather

Housing

Different habits

Health insurance or social security

Other

Difficulties for the different age groups

25-29 years 30-30 years

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Language

Registration requirements

Information

Cooperation with authorities

Finding work

Making friends

Cost of living

Weather

Housing

Different habits

Health insurance or social security

Other

Difficulties by marital status

single married/partnered

Figure C-6: Difficulties mentioned by geographical origin of free mover.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Language

Registration requirements

Information

Cooperation with authorities

Finding work

Making friends

Cost of living

Weather

Housing

Different habits

Health insurance or social security

Other

Difficulties for movers from newer and older EU member states

New EU MS Old EU MS

Pressure to integrate

“Everyone expects from you to make a statement that yes, I

love Belgium, I want to stay here. I want to learn Dutch,

French, and that’s my purpose in life. That’s what I see

everywhere and I can understand it, but, well, I feel this

pressure and I don’t feel comfortable with it because my idea

of life is totally different. I don’t… I did not come here because,

yeah, I love Belgium and I came to stay here. I’m not making a

religion of it, you know.”

(Polish female)

Part III

Manual for young people

on the move

(FR, NL, DE)

Information is available!

Two main facilitators:

Personal relations and expat communities

Sectoral Barriers: Employment

Employment section focuses on 3 topics:

1. Job-seeking• https://ec.europa.eu/eures/public/en/homepage

2. Fair treatment at the workplace• http://europa.eu/youreurope/advice/

• http://ec.europa.eu/solvit/

3. Recognition of qualifications

Recognition of qualifications

http://naricvlaanderen.be/en/

Recognition of qualifications in Flanders (NL, EN):

Part IV

Manual for authorities

Contents

I. Information for future and current movers provided in the countries

of origin

1.1. BULGARIA – Information portal for Bulgarians abroad

1.2. ROMANIA – guide for Romanian workers in the EU

1.3. PORTUGAL – Offices for Support to Emigrants

1.4. SPAIN – CEXT, Portal of Young Spanish Abroad

1.5. SPAIN – Europa Joven

II. Prevention of labour trafficking

2.1. POLAND, ROMANIA, BULGARIA and the NETHERLANDS – Network of Policy Officers

on Labour Migration and Social Affairs

Host country practices

III. Welcome and integration programmes

3.1. AUSTRIA – Start Wien

3.2. BELGIUM – Integration trajectories with an assigned counsellor

3.3. ESTONIA – Welcoming Programme

3.4. ESTONIA – targeted websites

3.5. AUSTRIA – CINT (Centre of Excellence for Expatriates and their

Families)

bon – the Brussels reception office

Contact information for bon

http://bon.be/en

Project on welcoming policies for EU migrants

• http://bon.be/nl/internationaal-project-local-welcoming-policies-for-eu-migrants

Welcome Europe toolkit

• https://www.amsterdam.nl/publish/pages/705063/welcome-europe-toolkit_web.pdf

Other sectionsIV. Streamlining administrative procedures

4.1. GREECE – Citizens’ Service Centre

4.2. NETHERLANDS – Quick collective registration

V. Legal assistance to free movers

5.1. BELGIUM – EU citizens’ rights clinic

VI. Fostering civic engagement

6.1. GERMANY – ‘Give something back to Berlin’

VII. Prevention of brain drain

7.1. BULGARIA – Scholarship Fund ‘Go, Study and Come Back’

VIII. Cross-national cooperation between local authorities

8.1. FRANCE - Young Ambassador Nantes-Saarbrücken

EU Rights Clinic

https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/eu-rights-clinic/

Thank you for your attention

Any questions?