The free movement of people, goods, capital and services are a main driving force behind the principles and workings of the European Union. In fact, various initiatives held under the auspices of the EU not only seek to promote these freedoms, but also seek to devise ways and means of developing and consolidating such principles.

Taking in consideration the free movement of persons, the EU has a number of mechanisms not only to support it, but also to act as a catalyst in its promotion and awareness. For instance, many of the Union-funded programmes, especially those related to education and training, promote the benefits of exchanging ideas and offer funded placements and exchanges as a means of promoting mobility.

For instance, one of the operational objectives under the Leonardo da Vinci programme is ‘to improve the quality and to increase the volume of mobility … involved in initial vocational education and training’. This is further supported through the mobility action that provides financial support for employees to undergo training placements in other EU countries and also measures to bring stakeholders together to develop or transfer ideas related to vocational training.

Various other funds target younger age groups. For instance, the Youth in Action programme provides an opportunity for Europe’s younger generation to participate in various youth exchanges aimed at allowing participants to discover and be aware of other social and cultural realities. One can also mention the Erasmus measure which, for the past 20 years, has been enriching the student life experience by giving students the opportunity of spending a full semester in another member state.

The European Union also hosts the EURES portal. This European job mobility portal brings closer the various job and learning opportunities in all European Countries. EURES (EURopean Employment Services) brings together the European Commission and the public employment agencies. Moreover, the European Union has passed a number of directives all aimed at easing the mobility of workers. EURES does not only provide information to those seeking employment overseas and to employers, but also to other citizens benefiting from the free movement of persons principle. Incidentally, a couple of weeks ago the EU organised the EU Job Days that were held simultaneously in 230 cities across Europe, including Malta.

Apart from all these initiatives, the EU is constantly adapting its mechanisms in order to safeguard the freedom of movement of persons. In fact, on 9 October, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a directive on the minimum requirements for enhancing worker mobility by improving the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights. This proposal seeks to safeguard the rights and eliminate obstacles relating to pension rights which may be faced by workers who have exercised their right to free movement. The proposal adopted by the Commission takes on board almost all the major recommendations submitted by the European Parliament last June.

This proposal envisages that by promoting supplementary pension schemes, workers’ mobility will be made easier. It also provides for the right for timely and good information on how mobility would affect workers’ pension and other social benefits.

An important element in this proposal is that the European Commission is relying more on minimum requirements rather than on a thorough harmonisation process.

Further information regarding this proposal is available on website: http://ec.europa. eu/employment_social/emplweb/news/news_en.cfm?id=298

Mr Micallef is Funding Support Officer at Forum Malta fl-Ewropa