Barriers to labour mobility in Europe
The BBC website has updated developments in restrictions introduced by national governments for the movements of workers within the European Union. The free movement of labour is one of the key foundations of the single market but in the wake of EU enlargement, many governments have introduced limits often in the form of quotas - funny how these ‘temporary’ controls often become semi-permanent! And any form of restriction creates an incentive to by-pass the control. There is more detailed background information available from the EurActive website.
Businesses back a widening of the EU
Strong backing for a further widening of the boundaries of the EU single market is reported in the Sunday Telegraph. Students preparing for the forthcoming AQA Unit 4 paper on the Economics of the EU will find this relevant - both for the content and also for the distinctive views of different stakeholders in the EU expansion debate. Identifying value judgements in extracts is one of the key skills of the exam.
read more...»Slovakia applies to join the Euro
Slovakia today made a formal application to join the single European currency and bid to become the fourth of Europe’s new member states to progress to the next stage of economic integration by locking themselves into the Euro. A verdict on entry is likely to come as early as May 7th when the EU commission publishes new economic forecasts which will include data on the key convergence criteria for wannabee euro zone members. If all goes well, Slovakia will enter the single currency system on 1st January 2009.
read more...»UK migrant flows starting to reverse?
Migrant flows starting to reverse
There are signs that the huge inflow of migrant workers predominantly from eastern european countries which has boosted the effective UK labour supply in recent years is starting to go into reverse.
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