Impact of mobile EU citizens on national social security systems

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Series Details 14.10.13
Publication Date 14/10/2013
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According to a study published in October 2013 by the European Commission, in most EU countries EU citizens from other Member States use welfare benefits no more intensively than the host country's nationals. Mobile EU citizens are less likely to receive disability and unemployment benefits in most countries studied.

The study's results complement those of other studies that consistently show that workers from other Member States are net contributors to the public finances of the host country. Migrant workers from other Member States usually pay more into host country budgets in taxes and social security than they receive in benefits because they tend to be younger and more economically-active than host countries' own workforce.

These studies include the OECD's International Migration Outlook 2013, the Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration study on Assessing the Fiscal Costs and Benefits of A8 Migration to the UK and a recent study by the Centre for European Reform.

The European Commission complained that the UK government had consistently declined to provide evidence to support its claims about 'benefit tourism'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=1980
Related Links
European Commission: DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion: A fact finding analysis on the impact on the Member States' social security systems of the entitlements of non-active intra-EU migrants to special non-contributory cash benefits and healthcare granted on the basis of residence (2013) http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=10972&langId=en
EUObserver, 14.10.13: Welfare tourism 'neither widespread nor systematic' in Europe http://euobserver.com/social/121778
ESO: Background information: Welfare benefits and intra-EU mobility http://www.europeansources.info/record/welfare-benefits-and-intra-eu-mobility/
BBC News, 14.10.13: EU study on migrants rebuffs 'benefit tourism' claims http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24517983
BBC News, 14.10.13: Benefit tourism claims: European Commission urges UK to provide evidence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24522653
ESO: Background Information: Commission doubtful over 'benefits tourism' claims http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-doubtful-over-benefits-tourism-claims/
The Guardian: 14.10.13: Comment is Free: Benefit tourism – the facts http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/14/benefit-tourism-facts-european-commission-report
Deutsche Welle, 12.10.13: EU migrants no burden on welfare system, study says http://dw.de/p/19yOE
European Commission: UK Representation, 14.10.13: Media claims that 600 000 unemployed EU migrants live in the UK are 'a gross and irresponsible misrepresentation' http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/media-claims-re-unemployed-migrants-a-gross-and-irresponsible-misrepresentation/
EurActiv, 17.10.13: 'Benefits tourism' in the EU is a myth, report says http://www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/little-evidence-benefit-tourism-news-531128
European Parliament: Press Release, 22.10.13:Does freedom to move around the EU lead to 'benefit tourism'? http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20131018IPR22648/
Debating Europe, 21.11.13: Is ‘welfare tourism’ a real problem or is it a myth? http://www.debatingeurope.eu/2013/11/21/welfare-tourism/

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