How Can Member States Better Promote Cross-Border Mobility? The Free Movement of Persons, Recognition of Qualifications and Social Security Rights

Target group
This seminar is designed for public officials from national, regional and local authorities, consulates, National Contact Points for professional qualifications and other public bodies from the EU Member States and candidate countries. It is also of interest to professionals in the private sector, lawyers, consultants, staff of NGOs, institutes and think tanks, as well as others working on EU citizenship, rules for free movement and migration policies.

Description
Although EU citizenship facilitates the free movement of citizens within the European Union, people are still faced with barriers when they decide to live or work in a Member State other than the one of their own nationality. The seminar aims to help Member States identify measures that constitute barriers to workers’ and professional mobility so that these can be eliminated.

Learning Methodology
This seminar will be based on a mixture of presentations, discussions and workshops. It will stimulate active participation and the sharing of policy practices. Specific cases and experiences will be explored. Background documentation will also be provided in an online/e-Learning set up. Speakers will include officials from the EU institutions, academics, practitioners and representatives from professional organisations.

Objectives
The seminar aims to:
• address important aspects of free movement and family reunification and examine ways of helping national authorities to manage problems of implementation;
• present the legislative proposal to modernise the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC with the first reactions received from different stakeholders, as well as aspects for education and training reforms;
• present challenges posed to pensions;
• analyse provisions for the coordination of social security rights for EU citizens and legally residing third-country nationals, whilst giving concrete examples of legislative changes in social security law.

Programme & walking tour of Maastricht
The programme will commence on Thursday at 09.00 and will finish on Friday at 15.00. A guided walking tour in the historic centre of Maastricht is foreseen for those interested on Friday at 15.00.

Seminar venue
The seminar will take place at the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31 43 32 96 222, fax: +31 43 32 96 296.

Working language
The seminar will be conducted in English.

Fee
The participation fee is €850 and includes documentation, two lunches, one dinner, refreshments and a guided walking tour. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration. EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. For details, please click here.

Hotel reservations
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at the following hotel in Maastricht: Hotel Townhouse**** www.townhousehotels.nl at a rate of €85,99 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.

Meals
Meals will be served at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner in the evening will be at a restaurant in town. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.

Registration
Kindly complete the online registration form before 14 June.
Your name and address will be part of EIPA's database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box on the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. For cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins, we will have to charge an administration fee of €150 unless a replacement participant is found.

Cancellation policy
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to two weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA's cancellation policy, please visit our website.