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Free to move, reluctant to share: Unequal opposition to transnational rights under the EU's free movement principle

Author

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  • Aleksandra Sojka
  • Liisa Talving
  • Sofia Vasilopoulou

Abstract

Free movement is simultaneously widely acclaimed and strongly contested in the European Union. To address this apparent contradiction, we unpack European Union freedom of movement into its different transnational rights and argue that opposition is unequal across entitlements. Using evidence from a unique survey conducted in the United Kingdom in 2017, we show that citizens mainly contest welfare access. This transnational right implies costs for the host country and taps into perceptions of belonging and deservingness. Due to its association with ideas of national community and solidarity, access to welfare is more contested even among those who, in principle, should be favourable to such entitlements: inclusive national identifiers and European integration supporters. Our findings underscore the challenge of creating a sense of European community that could underpin all transnational rights implied by the Union's principle of freedom of movement.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleksandra Sojka & Liisa Talving & Sofia Vasilopoulou, 2024. "Free to move, reluctant to share: Unequal opposition to transnational rights under the EU's free movement principle," European Union Politics, , vol. 25(2), pages 269-290, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:25:y:2024:i:2:p:269-290
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165231215440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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