Living and Working in the EU

One of the fundamental objectives of the European Union, as stated by the Treaty of Lisbon, which was signed in 2007 and came into force in 2009, is to offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal borders.

Since the Schengen acquis was integrated into Community law, the concept of “free movement” is used in two senses.

First, in the traditional sense of free movement for EU citizens, i.e. the right to enter, stay and remain in another Member State; second, in the sense of anyone being able to cross the internal borders without undergoing checks.

Today, over 400 million people live in the Schengen area. In order to ensure the well-being of all EU citizens who live and work abroad, the EU has to coordinate all European countries’ social security schemes. EU rules on social securty were updated and a new, improved coordination system entered into force in May 2010.

FACT SHEETS

Living in the EU

• Free movement of people
• Data protection within the EU

Working in the EU

• Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth
• Social Security Rights
• EUbusiness: Employment strategies, networks and mobility

EU Social Policy Contacts

EU Employment Contacts