Immigration was perceived to be one the key issues of contention in the referendum of 23 June 2016. The desire to limit immigration, in general, and from the European Union, specifically was cited as one of the main factors motivating the leave vote that prevailed on the day.
Article 45 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union establishes the right of all citizens of the European Union to “move and freely reside” within the territory of Member States. Article 46 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union prohibits discrimination between workers of member states in matters of employment.
The articles apply to all countries that are party to the European single market, including non-EU members such as Norway or Iceland that are part of the European Economic Area (EEA). Switzerland has taken on these obligations (in slightly modified form) under one of its package of bilateral agreements with the EU.
The UK government, under the leadership of Theresa May took the position that it would rescind its participation in single market rules on the movement of people. The qui pro quo that it proposed was that the UK also leave the single market for services. That position is largely reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration finalised in late 2018.
Changes to policy on immigration, labour and skills is expected to have profound social and economic impacts. The articles in this section look at some of these in more detail.
Commentary
Immigration was one of the key issues of contention in the referendum of 23 June 2016. The desire to limit immigration for the European Union was cited as one of the main factors, if not the main one, motivating the leave vote that prevailed on the day. Since then, the Government has listed the control […]
Read moreCommentary
Where the United Kingdom stands now UK politics are in turmoil following the Government’s last-minute decision on 10 December to postpone the House of Commons “meaningful vote” – which had been scheduled for the following day – on the draft UK/EU Withdrawal Agreement and its accompanying Political Declaration on future bilateral relations. Ministers had been […]
Read moreCommentary
Along with the Irish border, the question of free movement was one of the seemingly intractable questions at the recent EU summit in Salzburg. Put simply the EU does not want to convey the impression that it is possible for the UK – or any other member -to give up a commitment to this key […]
Read moreCommentary
The resolution of the Irish border question has been presented as one of the trickiest issues to resolve before the UK and the EU can reach agreement on the Withdrawal Agreement between the two. This was underscored at the recent informal EU Council summit at Salzburg, at which the UK described the European Commission’s approach […]
Read more