image-0001Yesterday, Eurodiaconia attended a book launch of a publication entitled “Social benefits and migration: a contested relationship and policy challenge in the EU” based on research carried out by the Centre for European Policy Studies, and supported by MEP Jean Lambert. The scope of the book covers third country nationals residing legally in the EU as well as EU mobile citizens, asylum seekers and refugees. The book addresses four main arguments

1. Social welfare tourism
2. Mobile EU nationals
3. Welfare magnet hypothesis
4. The financial burden of migrants

The research found that EU migrants apply and receive social assistance far less than third country national (TCNs) and even less than member state nationals. EU nationals moving who are receiving social assistance tend to be long terms residents or pensioners. The report also shows that immigration does not substantially impact wages or employment in the host region and the statistics do not support the welfare magnet hypothesis. The final argument of financial burden is also contested, showing that many migrants are young and therefore working and contributing taxes.

The researchers make several concrete recommendations:
1. Knowledge: the need for a more rational evidence- based debate, better statistics and data, including access to data
2. Implementation and evaluation: better implementation and delivery of rights by Member States
3. Improve administration and accessibility: facilitate information and assistance programmes, access to statistics
4. A common EU approach to TCN social security coordination and social benefits

Mr Jörg Tagger from the European Commission stressed that EU mobility is still very low, around 2.8% (14.1 million) and that the main reason for which people move is for work, not for social benefits. He also stressed that since the 1st January there has been no huge flux of EU mobility as was thought.

You can download the publication here.