Ecas: ECAS launches its hotline on free movement 13 March 2009

There is a lot of debate in the Union about how to combat protectionism and zenophobia in the recession and guarantee the internal market freedoms. There is quite a debate in the Institutions about how to improve enforcement. However, as Alain Lamassure MEP points out in his recent report , no one bothers to ask the citizen. That’s where the hotline comes in.

The background document (accessible HERE) sets the scene. It argues that with the increase in available information, citizens expect that someone will deal with their problem. Expectations have increased because the European Court of Justice has made free movement a fundamental right of Union citizenship and there is a much improved legal framework. So rarely do we need new European laws.

Frustration comes from the gap between the case-law and the legislation and what actually happens on the ground. People are not made to feel like European citizens with national authorities often applying, not the spirit of EU law, but the exceptions.

What should be done? Do you or your organisation have experience of observing the application of EU law, sending complaints to the Commission, the European ombudsman or petitions to the European Parliament? How did you find the process in terms of ease of access, accountability, speed and results? Please email us at hotline@ecas.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with your story, and fill in the questionnaire found HERE.

We would also be grateful if you could circulate the questionnaire widely in your network.

By collecting together the answers, ECAS will be able to add weight to the argument for the next European Parliament and the next Commission to show real political will not just to regulate, but to enforce regulation, and to put resources behind these efforts. The attached paper also argues that there is a need to strengthen the Commission’s powers of enforcement and create a European Commissioner for citizens and fundamental rights. The system of “infringement” dates back to 1957 and the institutional mechanisms are both under used and underperforming. Isn’t this an area ripe for reform to help keep Europe open and prepare to come out of the recession? The answers to the hotline will be gathered together in a new version of the background paper with fewer questions and more recommendations to the EU to be raised during the European election campaign .

For further information:

Ecas