Comparing EU Migrants’ Social Rights in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK

Intra-EU migrants are meant to enjoy a privileged status within the Union compared with other non-citizens because of the principle of freedom of movement. Yet, with respect to welfare rights, some EU countries have been more inclusive than others, interpreting more broadly the stipulations of European law (Sainsbury 2012, Schierup, Hansen and Castels 2006). Variability also characterises member states’ response in this area to  the economic crisis and growth in intra-EU migration following EU enlargement: some countries have tightened access; others have  maintained the status quo. This paper reports on a four-country comparison of recent developments in the UK, Germany, Sweden and Spain. The four cases have been selected because they each represent a type of welfare regime and all have received a large number of recent intra-EU migrants. The paper first maps the social policy responses in each country and then investigates explanations of observed variations. We examine particularly the extent to which the generosity of existing welfare provision for migrants or entrenched traditions of welfare regime account for the observed changes. Finally, we consider the consequences of welfare retrenchment for the principle of free movement of citizens within the EU.