International movements of labour and the process of european integration

Abstract

The free movement of labour is one of the cornerstones of the single market in the EU. It is also one of the tangible symbols for the general public that the European integration actually works. The main aim of the article is to explore the relationships between the process of economic integration in Europe and the international flows of labour, mainly within the EU. The study considers this problem from both theoretical and empirical perspective. The first part of the study gathers relevant academic approaches applied to an analysis of
this phenomenon at different stages of economic integration. Subsequently, the European regulations on free movements of factors is shortly presented and the mobility of labour in Europe is examined. Furthermore, the question arises why despite the fact that legal barriers have been gradually removed the EU-citizens practically do not use their right to move and work in another member state. The last part of the article gives a brief review of Polish work emigration after the accession to the EU. The paper ends with a short summary.