The posts this week centred the attention on
European Union law and one of the four fundamental freedoms all European Union
citizens have: free movement of persons. In particular, the posts presented
European Union treaty law (arts. 18, 20-24 TFEU) and a few decisions by the
European Court of Justice. Both the treaty articles and the judicial decisions
are key in the case of Northern Ireland in light of the soon to come Brexit.
It should be clear to the reader now that the
civil, political and socio-economic rights laid down in arts. 21-24 TFEU is
limited. However, the European Court of Justice has been able to interpret
European Union treaty law in a more generous manners.
On the one hand, from decisions such as Baumbast, it
appears that the right to free movement under art. 21 TFEU does not constitute a
truly independent right to free movement decoupled from economic status. On the
other hand, the ECJ has been able to “extend” the right to equality with decisions
in Martinez Sala and Grzelczyk. It is true the decisions in later cases such as
Collins and Bidar narrowed the effect of previous decisions and enabled Member
States to require fulfilment of residence period before successful claim to
show sufficient link to territory.
Indeed, the rights that have to do with European
Union citizenship are limited. Arguably, The ECJ has been able to interpret the
right to equal treatment (or non-discrimination) more broadly. Time will tell
whether the integration will be a reality and this and other civil, political
and socio-economic rights are fully fleshed for European Union citizens.
Next week the posts will introduce free movement of
persons with focus on workers and the highly controversial issue of benefits.
Jorge
Emilio Núñez
06th July 2018
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