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Social Rights of EU Migrant Citizens: Britain and Germany Compared

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 October 2015

Cecilia Bruzelius ,
Elaine Chase  and
Martin Seeleib-Kaiser
Cecilia Bruzelius
Affiliation:
Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford E-mail: cecilia.bruzelius@stx.ox.ac.uk
Elaine Chase
Affiliation:
Oxford Institute of Social Policy, University of Oxford E-mail: elaine.chase@spi.ox.ac.uk
Martin Seeleib-Kaiser
Affiliation:
Oxford Institute of Social Policy, University of Oxford E-mail: martin.seeleib@spi.ox.ac.uk
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Abstract

European migrant citizens and their social rights are strongly contested in British political debate. This article seeks to challenge some common concerns and perceptions regarding the exceptionality of the British welfare state and the alleged ‘costs’ to it from intra-EU migration. The article first provides a brief overview of the foundations for EU citizenship and associated social rights, highlighting the semi-sovereign nature of welfare states in the European Union. It then (i) rejects the significance of the often-claimed difference between contributory and non-contributory welfare states in the context of EU migration; and (ii) challenges concerns about the costs of EU migration. The article contrasts the experiences of Britain and Germany. It concludes by considering how concerns often associated with EU migration can be addressed by improving administrative and state capacities.

Keywords

EU integrationintra-EU migrationsocial rightsUnited KingdomGermany
Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , July 2016 , pp. 403 - 416
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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