The Treaty of Rome allowed workers and bosses of EU member states free movement. Today, with 500 million citizens from 28 nations, the EU is the largest transnational migration area. Enlargements to the Central and East Europe, and to the Balkans, and the economic crisis that hit so many Eurozone countries, helped propel a significant increase in intra-EU migration. Today, free movement is being attacked by emergent populist parties right across Europe. This debate will explore the dimensions of EU migration and citizenship, alongside such charges as 'welfare tourism', 'wage-dumping' and public service pressures. In Britain, UKIP has made EU migration a central election theme, arguing for EU withdrawal, while Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to renegotiate the 'control of UK borders', and both Labour and Conservatives pledge waiting periods before EU citizens can access welfare benefits. What is really at stake ? Can member states adjust benefits for EU migrants ? How can the impact on jobs and wages be assessed ? Is social cohesion under threat ? Who is most affected by EU migration ? Who are the beneficiaries ? What are the ways forward ?
Programme :
16.30 - Welcome Dr Paul Flather (The Europaeum) & Dr Anne Simonin (Maison Française)
Panel I What is really at stake ?
Chair: Professor Kalypso Nicolaïdis (Professor of International Relations, St Antony's College, Oxford)
Speakers: - Professor Martin Seeleib-Kaiser (Barnett Professor of Comparative Social Policy and Politics, St Cross College, Oxford) - Dr Madeleine Sumption (Migration Observatory Director, Centre on Migration, Policy, and Society (COMPAS), Oxford)
17.30 Break
17.40 - Panel II The Debate on EU Migration
Chair: Dr Paul Flather (The Europaeum and Mansfield College ) Speakers: - Lord (Andrew) Green of Deddington, KCMG (Founder and Chair of Migrationwatch UK) - László Andor (former European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
18.45 Closing Remarks followed by drinks reception
