scholarly journals The consequences of compromising the EU’s free movement of persons principle on Swiss research: how to survive constrained access to regional funding

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Saric ◽  
Miriam Bolz ◽  
Marco Waser ◽  
Michael Käser
Keyword(s):  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Horizon 2020 ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Partial Association ◽  
European Partner ◽  
Free Movement Of Persons

AbstractBetween 2014 and 2016, Switzerland’s access to some of the EU funding was limited after a referendum against mass immigration was accepted and the country refused to sign the free movement accord to the EU’s newest member, Croatia. It is well documented that Switzerland has suffered from a drop in participation, funding and a decrease in consortium lead positions. However, there is no account of the consequences on institutional level. We therefore aimed at describing the immediate- and longer-term impact of the partial association status to the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and to identify key strategies for minimizing institutional damage during a limited access period to a key regional funding source. A quantitative analysis of the institute’s grants database, from 2007 to 2019, did not show any clear trends related to the partial association status of Switzerland for funding and projects awarded. The qualitative outcomes changed along the timeline assessed; whereas in 2014 a range of negative effects were stated by Swiss TPH researchers, a survey conducted in 2019 with Swiss TPH applicants and project partners to Horizon 2020, revealed that most project leaders felt that the partial association did neither affect their external partners’ willingness to collaborate nor Swiss TPH’s role in the proposal or consortium. On the other hand, the institutional strategic goal of taking on consortia leads was delayed by several years as a direct consequence of the partial association. Also, the exclusion from European research networks and the lack of consultation of expertise by the European partner institutions was widely seen as damaging. A policy of favouring long-term partnerships over ad-hoc collaborations, along with constant and trustful communication, as immediate mitigation measure, helped averting some of the reputational and access damage. Moreover, the Swiss TPH business model based on a three-way strategy of research, education and services has proven highly viable allowing to build a large pool of potential funding sources internationally, resulting in relative resilience in terms of income lost.

Migration, mobility and the free movement of persons: an issue for current and future EU members

2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-467
Author(s):  
Renate Langewiesche ◽  
Martina Lubyova
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Social Partnership ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Free Movement Of Persons

This article, in addition to providing information on and discussing lines of argumentation and probable developments, proposes an 'integrated' approach to the issue of migration. Public debate in some of the European Union (EU) member countries gives the impression of a deep East-West divide as far as migration movements are concerned. It is often feared that opening the EU towards the East will, by way of the expected migratory flows and low-wage competition, result in massive distortions on west European labour markets, accompanied by job losses and pressure on wages. Policy-makers and the public at large in applicant countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) resent calls in some EU Member States for transitional periods for the free movement of persons, excluding the freedom of the new member's citizens to move in the enlarged Single Market. We hold that it is too short-sighted to look at the two sides merely as 'antagonists': First, a look at current data and projections about future developments should be conducive to dispel the diffuse fears in the current EU of being inundated by east European labour migrants once these countries accede. Secondly, flanking policy instruments, such as structural and regional policies, the fostering of social partnership in the CEECs and the introduction of active labour market strategies, all of which are still more or less in a stage of infancy, as well as close cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs will have to play their full role before and after accession, in order to mitigate possible negative effects in certain segments of the labour market. This paper also gives some insights into labour migration and the effects of the application of EU border control requirements in a number of accession countries, an aspect greatly overlooked in debates within the current EU

Square Pegs and Round Holes: The Free Movement of Persons Under EEA Law

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 165-186
Author(s):  
Christian NK FRANKLIN
Keyword(s):  
Free Trade ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Fundamental Principle ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
Trade Association ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
European Free Trade Association ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
Free Movement Of Persons ◽  
The Eu

AbstractWhilst the European Union’s aim of achieving an ‘ever closer Union’ is not an objective of EEA cooperation, homogeneity demands that we follow the same path: as the Union gets ever closer, so too does EEA cooperation, in light of the demands of the fundamental principle of homogeneity. This is particularly well demonstrated by looking at developments in the field of the free movement of persons. The case law of the Court of Justice of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA Court) in this field shows that in situations where homogeneity is put to the test, there seems little to suggest that a more national sovereignty-friendly approach has been adopted than under EU law. Notwithstanding the integral differences between the EU and EEA legal constructs, the EFTA Court has proven highly adept at keeping pace with EU developments in the field through a number of bold and creative interpretations of EEA law, and by using different tools to arrive at uniform conclusions.

II. Free Movement of Persons

2001 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jules Lonbay
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Amsterdam Treaty ◽  
Previous Note ◽  
Title Iv ◽  
Treaty Of Rome ◽  
Free Movement Of Persons ◽  
Criminal Matters

As mentioned in the previous note1 the Amsterdam Treaty significantly alters the treaty structure as regards the free movement of persons. The EC treaty now has, as one of its formal activities as set out in article 3(1)(d), “measures concerning the entry and movement of persons as provided for in Title IV”. The creation of a new Title IV in the EC Treaty on establishing an area of freedom, security and justice moves a corpus of subject matter2 from the inter-governmental pillar on Justice and Home Affairs to the Treaty of Rome. The aim clearly set out is to establish, within five years, all the measures necessary to create “an area without frontiers” in accordance with Article 143 together with “flanking measures with respect to external board of controls of asylum and immigration” as well as “measures to prevent and combat crime in accordance with the provisions of Article 31 (e) of the Treaty on European Union”.4 Co-operation between the Member States is also to be strengthened and encouraged5 as well as measures in the field of police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters though the latter is in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty on the European Union.6

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