Visa and free movement of labour: The uneven imposition of the EU acquis on the accession states

Abstract

This article analyses the extension of the European Union's visa policy and the principle of free movement of labour to the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in the light of EU eastern enlargement policy. On the one hand, under the conditions of EU accession the CEE countries are required to adopt in full the EU's visa policy - even prior to accession, although some EU member states are granted a derogation. On the other hand, the EU has adopted a restrictive policy on free movement of labour from the CEE countries by introducing transitional periods after their accession, while at the same time encouraging labour mobility of EU citizens. The article demonstrates that with regard to these two aspects of free movement of people, the EU treats the CEE candidate states as members as far as the obligations of EU membership are concerned and as third countries as to its benefits. Keywords: Eu Visa PolicyFree Movement Of LabourEu Eastern Enlargement