Freedom of movement within the European Union is a cornerstone of European integration and a fundamental right of European citizens. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans are leaving their homeland for a host country within EU28 for various reasons.

Since the EU accession of countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe, intra-EU mobility has changed. Previously, migration took place mainly from Europe’s South (plus Ireland) to the north-western EU Member States (plus Norway and Switzerland). In recent times the main direction has been along an East-West axis.

Because of the recent financial and economic crisis this process has partly been accelerated and partly been reversed because of return migration. At the same time we can see the re-emergence of emigration from the southern EU Member States. All this has led to the formation of new European diasporas within the EU.

Taking into account the fact that Latvia has itself experienced the voluntary emigration of an unprecedented number of its own citizens, the Latvian EU Presidency will organise a conference on diverse aspects of intra-EU mobility and the freedom of movement of persons, and the role of European diasporas, while looking at the new challenges confronting EU Member States.

Conference presentations

• "Labour mobility in the EU: from fundamental right to freedom of movement to a more efficient allocation of labour resources?" (Dr. Yves Pascouau, Director of Migration and Mobility Policies, European Policy Centre )(PDF)
• "Labour Mobility in the EU: facts, figures and way forward" (Mr Jörg Tagger, Deputy Head of Unit, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission) (PDF)
• "Statistical measurement issues in intra-EU labour mobility & migration" (Mr Walter J.Radermacher, Director General, Eurostat, European Commission) (PDF)
• "Macro-Economic Aspects Of People’s Mobility" (Mr Jonathan Chaloff, International Migration Division, OECD) (PDF)
  
• "The Economic Impact of Migration on the Destination and Sending Country" (Prof. Raul Eamets, University of Tartu, Chairman of the Fiscal Council, Estonia) (PDF)
• "Post-2000 emigration from Poland and the Baltics" (Prof. Mihails Hazans, University of Latvia, Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labour, IZA, Bonn) (PDF)
• "How to Improve Intra-European Mobility and Circular Migration? Fostering Diaspora Engagment?" (Ms Ilona Kiukucāne, Adviser, Permanent Delegate to Business Europe, Employers’ Confederation of Latvia) (PDF)
• "The social dimension of intra-EU mobility: Impact on public services" (Ms Klára Fóti, Research Manager for the Living Conditions and Quality of Life Unit, Eurofound) (PDF)
• "Social, cultural and perception aspects of mobility" (Ms Ylva Tivéus, Member of Board, Europeans Throughout the World) (PDF)
• "Intra-EU mobility:State of play; Commission actions to strengthen free movement" (Ms Marie-Hélène Boulanger, Head of Unit, DG for Justice and Consumers, Union Citizenship Rights and Free movement, EC)(PDF)
• "Return migration to Latvia: problems, policies, perceptions and perspectives" (Dr. Inta Mieriņa, Scientific Director, University of Latvia)(PDF)
• "Diaspora policy in Lithuania: building bridges and new connections" (Ms Ginte Damušis, Director, Department of Lithuanians Living Abroad, Ministry of Foreign affairs, Lithuania) (PDF)
• "Linking Malta with its Diaspora" (Dr.Raymond C.Xerri, Director of Maltese Living Abroad Directorate, MFA, Malta, ETTW) (PDF)
• "Background and Statistics,1989-2014" (Mr Ofir Lahav, Manager, Senior Department of Policy Planning, Budget, Work Program and Research, Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, Israel) (PDF)
• "Relevance of migration for Georgia" (Ms Anna Goos, Migration Expert, Secretariat of the State Commission on Migration Issues, Public Service Development Agency, Ministry of Justice, Georgia) (PDF)